Ziet kinders! in deez' print verbeeld, / Wat rampen jeugd en losheid teelt, / En denkt toch niet, dat, bij berouw, / Elk zulk een vader vinden zou 1805 - 1808

This print by Johannes Bouwer presents the parable of the Prodigal Son, a potent symbol of repentance and divine forgiveness, rendered with the precise lines of etching. The central motif is the son's journey: leaving home, squandering his inheritance in dissipation – notice the scene of revelry and waste – and descending into abject poverty, signified by his tending to swine. This recalls images of the ‘wild man,’ a figure of unchecked impulse. Observe, then, the father’s house, a recurring symbol of divine grace, which echoes across time in countless depictions of sacred spaces. But consider the son's return, a profound act of contrition. In that moment, we find echoes of classical supplication, a universal plea for mercy that resonates deeply within our collective memory. It is through such acts of turning inward and acknowledging our failings that humanity seeks redemption. This is not merely a religious tale but a psychological mirror, reflecting our own internal struggles and the enduring hope for reconciliation and renewal.