Prodigal Son c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled Prodigal Son, is by an anonymous artist and resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is one of stark contrasts—a crude, almost brutal simplicity in its black and white lines that belies the complicated emotion of the scene. Curator: Indeed. The image depicts a key moment in the biblical parable: the son, having squandered his inheritance, returns to his father in repentance. Considering this within a socio-political framework, we can read it as a commentary on class, privilege, and the fraught dynamics of familial power. Editor: Absolutely, the symbolism is rich. Note the pigs, traditionally representing impurity and degradation, juxtaposed with the father's forgiving embrace. It’s a visual metaphor for spiritual redemption. Curator: And that redemption isn’t without its layers of complexity when you consider the historical context of patriarchal structures and societal expectations. Editor: A powerful interplay of image and narrative that continues to resonate across centuries. Curator: It certainly highlights the ongoing dialogue between individual morality and societal judgment.