Laatste Avondmaal 1590 - 1622

Boëtius Adamsz Bolswert created this engraving, Laatste Avondmaal, to illustrate the institution of the Eucharist. This work emerges from a period marked by intense religious conflict and reformation. Bolswert uses the visual language of his time to explore themes of betrayal, faith, and redemption. Figures are staged within a rigid architectural space, and the bodies are stylized in a manner that was typical of the period. Yet, look closer and you can see a negotiation between religious narrative and personal interpretation. What strikes me most is the emotional depth Bolswert infuses into a well-known biblical scene. By including the figures on the balcony, the artist suggests layers of separation and observation, which mirror the personal reflections that viewers may experience. Ultimately, Laatste Avondmaal reflects the period's social and religious tensions while also expressing an emotional and personal understanding of faith.