De terugkeer van de verloren zoon 1535 - 1545

Cornelis Anthonisz. created this woodcut, "The Return of the Prodigal Son," during the tumultuous years of the Reformation in the 16th century. Anthonisz., positioned as both an artist and a cartographer in Amsterdam, navigated a society in religious and social upheaval. This piece, illustrating the well-known parable, is less about simple moral redemption and more about the complex negotiations of sin, forgiveness, and societal reintegration. The ragged son kneels, a picture of shame and repentance, while figures representing virtues look on. But who defines these virtues, and for whose benefit? The artist prompts questions about the power dynamics inherent in forgiveness. Anthonisz. uses the print to engage with contemporary debates about grace, works, and the individual's relationship to both God and community. As the artist offers us an image of return, we should consider who is welcomed back and under what conditions. Perhaps this is a mirror reflecting the artist’s own hopes and fears in a fractured world.