Paulus en Silas in de gevangenis 1720 - 1728

"Paulus en Silas in de gevangenis" (Paul and Silas in Prison), a 1720-1728 etching by Dutch artist Joseph Mulder, depicts a scene from the Acts of the Apostles, where Paul and Silas are imprisoned in Philippi. The artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, portrays the dramatic moment when an earthquake shakes the prison, causing the prisoners' chains to fall off. The dramatic chiaroscuro emphasizes the light of the angel who opens the prison doors, highlighting the miraculous event. This piece exemplifies the popularity of biblical scenes in Dutch art during the 17th and 18th centuries.