Der verlorene Sohn im Bordell c. 1636 - 1639

Curator: Take a look at "The Prodigal Son in the Brothel," an ink drawing on toned paper, brought to life by Ferdinand Bol between 1636 and 1639, here at the Städel Museum. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: Hmm, it's the overwhelming warmth despite the potentially cautionary subject matter. The brown ink washes everything in a hazy, almost nostalgic light. Curator: Nostalgic, interesting choice of words! Bol was quite interested in the emotional depths of biblical stories. The prodigal son theme—falling into temptation and then hopefully seeking redemption—resonated strongly during the Baroque period. Editor: Absolutely. Think about the symbolic weight of the scene. The son, lured by earthly pleasures like music and female company, slowly emptying his pockets. Is it purely didactic, though? Or is Bol also finding some delight in the vibrancy of the scene? Curator: I think there's a beautiful ambivalence there, it makes the scene so much more human! Note how Bol employs rapid, expressive linework that energizes the drawing. The loose, fluid lines gives the impression of figures caught in fleeting moments, as in, everything can dissolve at any minute now. Editor: The musician is key to all this—the guitar suggests a loosening of inhibitions, an escape from worldly burdens... I'm also noticing how all the gazes either rest on our figure in the front, or each other: the work seems to be really asking us how far we want to insert ourselves into their world! Curator: And then, is it really any different than our own, hmmm? So many interpretations bloom out of one relatively simple picture. But now that you know what the image is supposed to represent, has the emotional temperature changed for you? Editor: That's the amazing thing, isn't it? We're always bringing our own baggage to an image. My read might shift on another day, but today, it is more nuanced than what I went in with. Curator: What a wild little excursion, like Bol just showed us his rolodex, right? Editor: Totally—it’s a gentle invitation to dive deeper.