The Hundred Guilder Print: the man seen on the back in the lower left corner 1753 - 1810

This etching, by Rembrandt van Rijn, captures a moment of deep social and religious significance. Rembrandt was working in 17th-century Netherlands, a society wrestling with its identity amidst religious upheaval. He illustrates the transformative power of Christ's teachings, but also reflects on how those teachings are received and interpreted in diverse social contexts. The man seen on the back in the lower left corner represents one such perspective. The choice of etching, a medium capable of producing multiple originals, underscores the democratization of knowledge that was enabled by the printing press. The availability of images allowed for broader engagement with religious and social ideas. To fully appreciate Rembrandt's commentary, we must delve into historical archives, theological debates, and social studies of his time. Art, after all, does not exist in a vacuum. It's a mirror reflecting and refracting the society that creates it.