Opwekking van Lazarus door Christus 1590 - 1622

Editor: Here we have "The Raising of Lazarus by Christ," an engraving made between 1590 and 1622 by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert. The scene feels so theatrical; the figures are posed with such dramatic intensity. How do you interpret this work within its historical and social context? Curator: What strikes me is the image's potential to engage with themes of power, class and societal transformation in early modern Europe. The engraving presents the miracle as a spectacle, but let's think about how that spectacle might have functioned. Who had access to images like these? What socio-political structures are reinforced or challenged by this visual representation of divine intervention? Editor: That’s a good point. I was focused on the religious narrative itself, but considering the audience changes everything. The print format suggests wider circulation than a painting, but surely only to a privileged, literate class? Curator: Precisely. Think about how this scene, emphasizing Christ’s power over death, intersects with anxieties surrounding social hierarchies, particularly during a period of religious and political upheaval. Is it a message of hope for the marginalized, or a reinforcement of existing power structures? Consider the contrast between the active Christ figure, versus the subservient attitude from people assisting in resurrecting Lazarus. Editor: So, it’s not just a religious image, but also a commentary on the social order of the time. How subversive could it be? Curator: The very act of visualizing a miracle, circulating it, opens it up to interpretation. It creates a space where theological and political anxieties could be negotiated, discussed, even challenged within certain social circles. Editor: It's fascinating to see how one image can be interpreted on so many different levels! It definitely shifted my perspective on considering its place in the past. Curator: Exactly, looking at it this way is an ongoing process. We've just begun.