Verkwistende jongen met hond 1731 - 1794

This 18th-century engraving by Richard Houston titled "Verkwistende jongen met hond" (The Prodigal) depicts a young man seated at a table with a dog. The image is a social commentary on the dangers of a lavish lifestyle, as the young man squanders his inheritance on food and drink. The dog is a symbol of greed and gluttony, highlighted in the inscription at the bottom of the print. The artwork is a striking example of genre painting and is housed in the Rijksmuseum.