Verloren zoon als varkenshoeder met varkens bij trog c. 1611 - 1732

Editor: So, here we have "The Prodigal Son as Swineherd with Pigs at Trough" by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert, an engraving that dates somewhere between 1611 and 1732. It's striking how… desolate it feels. The man looks skyward in a way that is somehow both hopeful and defeated, and he’s surrounded by pigs. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is how this work serves as a powerful social commentary on the period, reflecting the economic anxieties and moral teachings of the time. Consider the symbolism embedded within the image. The prodigal son's downfall and repentance become a lens through which we can examine notions of poverty, shame, and redemption. In this context, the pigs aren't merely animals; they become symbolic of the depths of depravity and marginalization to which one could sink. What do you think about that? Editor: That makes sense. It is kind of a visual representation of hitting rock bottom. But isn't it also a bit… didactic? Almost like a moral lesson being forced on the viewer? Curator: Precisely! And that’s where it becomes interesting. How does the image negotiate between personal failing and structural inequalities? Was the prodigal son’s fate inevitable, given the socio-economic forces at play? Are we meant to simply condemn his actions, or also question the systems that allowed his destitution? Consider too that these narratives reinforce the importance of the patriarchal family. Editor: That’s a fascinating way to think about it, much more layered than I initially perceived. I was really just looking at the surface narrative. Curator: Exactly. This image prompts us to engage with broader societal critiques about who holds power and privilege. Editor: I definitely learned a lot, it seems there is a strong case of art mirroring social concerns in this one. Curator: And questioning whether that mirror is a true reflection, or a carefully constructed narrative.