Kort verhael van den Verloren Zoon 1833 - 1856

Dirk van Lubeek created this print, ‘Kort verhael van den Verloren Zoon,’ in the late 18th or early 19th century, a work dominated by linear precision and a stark composition. The scene unfolds within a shallow pictorial space, delineated by strong, unwavering lines. The kneeling figure of the prodigal son, gaunt and humbled, is set against the backdrop of coarsely rendered pigs. Lubeek employs a limited palette, with strategic use of yellow to highlight symbolic elements. Note the medal and garland above, motifs of honor and celebration, sharply contrasting with the son's destitution. The artist frames the son’s emaciated body and the scene of the pigs within the same composition, highlighting both the physical and moral degradation. This work invites consideration of how Lubeek uses classical allegories within a rapidly changing society, offering a moral lesson on redemption. The detailed linework and calculated composition work together to convey a narrative loaded with societal expectations and theological underpinnings.