Christus spreekt tot de schriftgeleerden en de farizeeën Possibly 1705 - 1728

This print of Christ speaking to the Pharisees was made by Matthijs Pool, likely in Amsterdam, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. Pool was known for his portraits, history paintings, and prints, and religious scenes such as this one were quite popular in the Dutch Republic. Prints such as this played a vital role in spreading religious and moral ideas during this period. The Protestant Reformation had changed the way people related to religious imagery. Rather than being confined to churches, religious art now entered the home. The form of printmaking made images more widely accessible. Here, Christ is depicted confronting the Pharisees, figures often seen as hypocritical and overly concerned with the letter of the law. The setting is indicated by classical ruins, a common artistic trope used to lend Biblical scenes a sense of historical authenticity. Pool may have aimed to underscore the idea of Christ challenging established religious authority, an idea that would have resonated in the Protestant Dutch Republic. By studying the prints and other visual media of the time, we gain valuable insights into the social and religious landscape of the Dutch Golden Age.