Straf van de ongehoorzame godsman 1720 - 1728

Joseph Mulder created this engraving, Straf van de ongehoorzame godsman, or Punishment of the disobedient man of God, around the turn of the 18th century in the Netherlands. The print depicts a biblical scene about the consequences of disobeying God's direct orders. We see the disobedient prophet lying prone on the ground having been mauled by a lion. His ass stands nearby. In the background, another man gestures in horror, seemingly the only witness to this divine retribution. During the Dutch Golden Age, prints like this were common. They reflected a culture deeply influenced by Calvinist Protestantism and its emphasis on personal piety and adherence to religious law. The visual language used here – the dramatic landscape, the expressive figures – is rooted in Baroque art, which was widely used to convey moral and religious lessons. Understanding this engraving requires delving into the religious and social context of the time, including the role of the church, the rise of print culture, and the function of art in shaping moral behavior. These prints were not merely aesthetic objects; they were powerful tools of religious instruction.