De verloren zoon bij de hoeren 1512 - 1583

This engraving, “The Prodigal Son Amongst the Prostitutes,” presents a scene of excess and moral decay, rendered with meticulous detail by an anonymous artist. The composition is structured around a table laden with food and drink, a focal point that draws the eye into the dissolute gathering. The use of line is particularly striking, creating texture and depth that invites a reading of the work through a semiotic lens. Notice the figure drinking, his gesture almost grotesque, contrasting with the tender exchange between the son and the prostitute beside him. Above, a figure spies on the scene, a banner unfurling with a warning. The engraving challenges fixed meanings, presenting the biblical narrative in a setting stripped of any moralizing tone. Its enduring appeal lies in its capacity to provoke ongoing reflection, a testament to how art embodies cultural and philosophical discourses.