De maaltijd in het huis van Zacheus; Zacheus in de vijgeboom 1485 - 1491

This is a woodcut print depicting ‘The Meal in the House of Zacchaeus; Zacchaeus in the Fig Tree’ by the Master of Antwerp. The story of Zacchaeus is a powerful narrative of transformation and acceptance. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus, transcending social barriers and the shame associated with his profession. This moment reflects themes of social justice and religious reform, central to the period's spiritual and political landscape. The print juxtaposes the communal meal, symbolizing inclusion and forgiveness, with Zacchaeus’s individual act of seeking connection. The choice to depict Zacchaeus in the tree might also speak to the historical context of social hierarchies and the act of subverting those structures. This image invites us to reflect on who gets a seat at the table, both literally and figuratively, and how societal outcasts can find redemption and belonging.