Parabel van de rijke man en de arme Lazarus 1606

Curator: Jacob Matham created this engraving, titled “Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus,” in 1606. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My immediate impression is chaos! But a very *structured* chaos. The opulence is practically bursting from the frame, even in the monochrome of the print. Curator: The image encapsulates the biblical parable. We witness the wealthy man feasting, oblivious, while Lazarus suffers immensely outside his gate. Matham presents a commentary on social stratification. Editor: Indeed, the layers of visual symbols tell a dense story. Consider the dog, a common symbol of fidelity, here licking Lazarus’ sores—an ironic twist. And isn’t that a peacock strutting around, a classic symbol of vanity, amidst the wealthy diners? Curator: Precisely. Matham uses these symbolic animals to underscore the moral message. He's responding to the patronage systems of his time and expressing some tension with wealth as it was being visibly flaunted. Editor: I see the composition mirrors this tension. The architectural setting moves our eye up the hill as the layers of humanity reveal their conditions of plenty and despair in equal measure. There is also tension in how all figures appear the same size regardless of their actual distance in the setting. Curator: The architecture provides a social framework for the story and displays current taste. Gardens like this one were places to display the political might of one’s family in the hopes of being granted access to more power and influence. These choices are directly implicated in who gets to be "good". Editor: It is the kind of symbolic staging that really stays with you. Look at the poor Lazarus right there with his faithful canine, emaciated... The picture holds two starkly contrasting sides within one view. Curator: What is especially impressive, as it appears here on display, is considering the context in which an artwork like this would have been consumed and what access to similar artworks may have been restricted. Editor: Reflecting on Matham’s engraving, the layers of symbolism truly capture the enduring relevance of the story. The moral commentary seems to become more pointed over time.