Fotoreproductie van de prent De verloren zoon door Albrecht Dürer before 1870

This is a photo reproduction of Albrecht Dürer’s print 'The Prodigal Son,’ the exact date of which remains unknown. The image depicts a biblical parable about repentance, forgiveness, and the dangers of greed. Produced in 16th-century Germany during the Reformation, the image gains meaning when we examine its complex social and cultural context. The economic structures of the early modern period in Germany, like elsewhere in Europe, were undergoing significant change, with the rise of mercantile capitalism and urbanization challenging feudal norms. Dürer's work reflects the growing mercantile cities and the rise of a wealthy merchant class. His focus on detail and realism can be related to the humanist movement that valued empirical observation and individual expression. The image could be seen as a moral commentary on the social changes of the time, warning against the temptations of wealth and the importance of traditional values. To fully understand the artwork, one must research the theological debates of the Reformation and the social history of early modern Germany. Analyzing such themes provides a richer, more meaningful interpretation of the work.