De verloren zoon als varkenshoeder c. 1684 - 1740

Gerrit de Broen produced this print depicting the prodigal son as a swineherd. It uses etching, a printmaking technique that allowed for detailed lines and tonal variations, to tell the story of a biblical parable. Made in the Netherlands around the turn of the 18th century, this image reflects the Dutch Republic's cultural and religious landscape. The Protestant Reformation had deeply impacted the understanding of morality and the individual's relationship with God. Here, the visual codes are striking: the impoverished figure of the son, contrasted with the abundance of the pigs he tends, speaks to the consequences of sin. The print’s existence as a multiple raises important questions about the art market in the Dutch Republic. How did the dissemination of prints like this shape popular understanding of morality and religion? To understand more, research into Dutch print culture, religious history, and economic structures of the art market would be invaluable. This artwork reminds us that artistic meaning is always tied to its specific social and institutional conditions.