The Prodigal Son 1882

"The Prodigal Son" is an etching by William Strang. Though undated, it likely hails from the late 19th century, a period marked by social upheaval and religious questioning. Strang's print draws upon the biblical parable, yet situates the son in a starkly human landscape of destitution and reflection. The young man, stripped bare and humbled, exists within a palpable tension—between spiritual yearning and physical degradation. The pigs, symbols of his fall from grace, are rendered with an intimacy that borders on empathy. Strang’s choice to focus on this moment of reckoning invites us to consider the complexities of repentance and redemption. Notice how Strang's work, created during a time of shifting social mores, neither fully embraces nor rejects traditional religious narratives. Instead, it offers a nuanced exploration of human frailty and the search for meaning in a changing world.