The Samaritan Arrives at the Inn c. 17th century

Editor: This etching is titled "The Samaritan Arrives at the Inn" by Simon Frisius. It's amazing how much detail he gets with just lines. I'm struck by the composition, how the inn seems both a refuge and somehow vulnerable within the landscape. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Good Samaritan narrative is so core to understanding early modern ethics. Frisius, working during a period of intense religious and social upheaval, uses the landscape to amplify the story's themes. Consider how the inn is positioned between wild nature and cultivated land. Does that placement suggest something to you? Editor: Maybe, like, the inn is this place of transition, where different social worlds meet? Curator: Precisely. It becomes a site where compassion can bridge divides. Frisius reminds us that acts of kindness, especially toward the marginalized, can transform societal landscapes. I like how you consider the details. Editor: It’s true. I hadn’t really thought about the landscape like that before. Thanks!