De maaltijd bij Simon de Farizeeër 1717 - 1796

Jean Michel Liotard made this print, "The meal at Simon the Pharisee," which depicts a scene from the New Testament. It stages a conflict between divine love and social convention. The image makes meaning through the contrast of light and shadow. The figures on the left, representing poverty and social exclusion, are cast in shadow. Mary, who is about to wash Jesus' feet, is among them. The architecture is a classical style, perhaps evoking the institutions of the time. The Pharisees, seated at the table, embody the religious and social establishment. It critiques the hypocrisy and rigidity of contemporary social structures. Note how this print makes a progressive statement by elevating the marginalized. To understand this print fully, we need to research the social context of 18th-century Europe, and in particular the role of the church and its attitude towards the poor and the outcast. By using historical and social context, we can gain insight into the ways the print challenges those norms.