The Prodigal Son, 2nd plate (L'enfant prodigue) 

Alphonse Legros etched this plate of the Prodigal Son. Observe the figure kneeling, head bowed, with only a simple staff for support. This posture of penance and supplication is a powerful symbol, recurring throughout art history from ancient religious scenes to more modern expressions of grief and humility. Consider how this act of kneeling appears elsewhere. In classical depictions of conquered peoples, the kneeling posture signified defeat. Yet, it also emerges in Christian art as a sign of devotion, seen in countless images of saints and worshippers before the divine. This duality reveals the complex nature of symbols, their meanings shifting with cultural context, each iteration layering new emotional weight. It is in this repetition that the viewer may connect to the profound emotion in the work. Legros masterfully evokes the prodigal son’s utter desperation in this work. The act of kneeling transcends mere religious iconography; it resonates with our primal understanding of submission.