Lazarus en de rijke man Possibly 1630 - 1702

This is "Lazarus and the Rich Man" by Pieter Nolpe, made around 1640. The engraving presents us with a tableau of morality, framed by text and allegorical scenes. At its center, Nolpe employs linear precision to depict the parable's characters in rich detail. The composition is structured to contrast earthly indulgence with divine retribution. Note how Nolpe uses the window as both a light source and a visual metaphor, dividing the earthly and spiritual realms. Lazarus is positioned in the lower register, connecting him to the earth and to the suffering. The rigid architectural elements, with their clear lines, against the fluidity of the scenes depicting Lazarus' fate, work to destabilize established meanings, questioning the value of earthly wealth. The piece invites us to question the structures that govern moral understanding and how they may be subverted. Nolpe uses the formal qualities of engraving not just to tell a story but to open a discourse on earthly and divine justice.