De verloren zoon als varkenshoeder c. 1548

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert made this print, titled "The Prodigal Son as Swineherd," in the Netherlands sometime before 1590. It is a very public display of religion. Here, Coornhert visualizes a biblical parable from the book of Luke. A young man squanders his inheritance and ends up destitute, feeding swine to survive. It's easy to see how this imagery would resonate with people in the Netherlands during this period. The 16th century was a time of immense social and religious upheaval. People questioned traditional authorities, leading to widespread religious conflict, culminating in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Prints like this one served a didactic purpose. For a largely illiterate population, these images visually disseminated religious and moral lessons, reinforcing or questioning social values through the very act of depicting them. To understand Coornhert's work more fully, scholars might consult historical records, religious tracts, and the artist's other works to get a clear understanding of the social and intellectual climate that shaped its creation.