Verloren zoon als varkenshoeder 1629 - 1740

This engraving, "Verloren Zoon als varkenshoeder", or "The prodigal son as a swineherd," was created by Christoffel van Sichem II in the Netherlands. The print illustrates a scene from the biblical parable, but it also speaks to the social and economic realities of the 17th century Dutch Republic. Sichem's choice to depict the son tending to swine is telling. In a society where social status was closely tied to one’s profession, this task was considered lowly and degrading. The detailed rendering of the son's impoverished state and the grimy swine emphasizes the consequences of straying from societal norms. The print, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, prompts us to consider how religious narratives were used to comment on social behavior. To fully understand this work, one must delve into the socio-economic structures of the Dutch Golden Age. By researching the period, we can better understand the moralizing function of images like this one.