Lazarus in de hemel en de rijke man in de hel before 1637

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger created this engraving, “Lazarus in Heaven and the Rich Man in Hell,” sometime in the 17th century. Van de Passe was working in a society deeply shaped by religious belief, rife with stark divisions of wealth and poverty, and increasingly destabilized by the rise of mercantilism and early capitalism. This image, derived from the Gospel of Luke, illustrates the reward of the virtuous poor and the torment of the selfish rich, offering a potent commentary on social justice. Here the figures are in stark contrast, Lazarus is embraced in heaven, while the rich man is engulfed in the torments of hell, surrounded by grotesque demons that reflect the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. Van de Passe’s print invites us to consider not only the moral dimensions of wealth and poverty but also the psychological and emotional stakes of living in a society defined by inequality. It’s a visceral reminder of the consequences of our choices and the enduring human quest for justice.