The Prodigal Son c. 16th century

Curator: This drawing, "The Prodigal Son," comes to us from Chrispijn van den Broeck, who was born in 1530. Editor: It’s bleak, isn't it? The poor fellow looks utterly humbled, sitting there with the swine. Curator: Van den Broeck really captures the symbolism of the story. The pigs, of course, represent the depths to which the son has sunk. Famine, repentance, and destitution made visually apparent. Editor: Those hogs really steal the scene, though. The artist rendered them with such… specificity. I feel like I can smell them! Curator: Perhaps that's the point. The contrast between his prior life and current squalor... Editor: It's a stark reminder that even in ruin, there's a strange beauty to be found. Curator: Indeed, and how symbols from biblical stories continue to resonate through art.