Verzoeking van Christus 1596 - 1630

Claes Jansz. Visscher created this print of the Temptation of Christ. This image, made in the Netherlands, presents a biblical scene set within a local forest. This directs our attention to the way that biblical imagery was absorbed into the everyday life and visual culture of the Dutch Republic. The popularity of such imagery speaks to the central place of the Bible within the spiritual life of the Netherlands. It also highlights the importance of the printing press as a vehicle for the dissemination of this imagery to a wide public. Prints like this played a significant role in shaping popular belief and moral values, and in reinforcing religious authority within the domestic sphere. By looking at the publishing houses and distribution networks that circulated these prints, we can learn a great deal about the religious and social life of the time.