Prodigal Son Wastes His Fortune c. 17th century

Curator: Jacques Callot’s tiny etching, “Prodigal Son Wastes His Fortune,” depicts an outdoor feast teeming with figures. The fine lines create a vibrant, almost chaotic scene. Editor: It feels deliberately overwhelming, reflecting the prodigal son's descent into excess. The composition leads us to ask, who is profiting from this extravagance and who is excluded? Curator: Consider how the fountain, a symbol of life-giving abundance, is perverted into a site of hedonistic indulgence. The son’s squandering rejects traditional values of restraint. Editor: And what about the figures relegated to the edges of the frame? They highlight the inherent inequalities in a society marked by such blatant displays of wealth. Curator: The imagery prompts a reflection on the timeless nature of temptation and the consequences of succumbing to fleeting pleasures. Editor: Ultimately, the scene reveals the disturbing societal structures that allow such reckless consumption to thrive, then and now.