Parabel van de arbeiders in de wijngaard c. 1570 - 1610

This engraving illustrates the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, a biblical scene laden with social commentary. The landowner, seemingly generous, embodies a paternalistic figure. His outstretched hand, a gesture of promise, recalls similar depictions of authority found in ancient Roman imagery. Consider how this hand mirrors those of emperors bestowing favor, yet here it raises questions of fairness. Is it justice or arbitrary power? This motif of the open hand stretches back through time. We see it re-emerge in various contexts, from religious icons to political propaganda, each time subtly shifting its meaning. The act of offering can easily become one of control. The vineyard itself, a symbol of prosperity and divine favor, is overshadowed by the tension in the foreground. Here, the workers’ expressions—some hopeful, others perhaps skeptical—hint at the underlying anxieties about labor, reward, and the inherent inequalities in society. A potent visual statement of human relationships.