Boetvaardige Zacheüs 1611

Willem van Swanenburg created this print called 'Boetvaardige Zacheüs' or 'Repentant Zacchaeus' using engraving. It depicts a biblical story set against the backdrop of the Dutch Golden Age. Look at how the image uses visual codes to convey meaning. We see Zacchaeus, the tax collector, kneeling in repentance, his hand on his chest, and the money he has illicitly gained spilling out before him. In the background we can see the figures of Jesus and his followers. During this time, the Dutch Republic was undergoing significant social and economic changes due to its burgeoning trade and colonial expansion. The image suggests a concern for moral issues amidst prosperity and perhaps critiques the ethics of wealth accumulation. The choice of a biblical subject allowed artists to comment on contemporary issues through historical narratives. To understand this artwork better, researchers can study the religious and social history of the Dutch Republic, looking at sermons, pamphlets, and other visual sources. Ultimately the meaning of art is rooted in its social and institutional context.