Thuiskomst van de verloren zoon 1658

Jan Baptist de Wael created this etching titled 'Return of the Prodigal Son'. Notice how the composition, bustling with figures, is meticulously organized with line and form to convey the narrative. The story unfolds through a contrast of vertical and horizontal lines. The architectural backdrop, defined by strong vertical columns and horizontal balustrades, provides a structured stage for the drama. The figures, however, disrupt this rigidity. Their varied poses—kneeling, embracing, gesturing—create a dynamic interplay of diagonals and curves that draw the eye across the scene. De Wael emphasizes the prodigal son’s humility through his kneeling posture, starkly contrasted with the upright stance of the father and onlookers. This is a semiotic device, signaling societal hierarchy. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to model figures and create depth. Light and shadow accentuate the emotional core of the scene.