Verzoeking van Christus Possibly 1525

Dirck Vellert created this engraving called "Temptation of Christ" in Antwerp around 1525. The print depicts a moment of moral crisis for Christ as he's tempted by the Devil. Now, notice how Vellert renders the Devil. In the attire of a wealthy merchant, he extends his hand towards Christ, offering stones that could become bread – a direct challenge to Christ's divine mission of spiritual, not material, sustenance. The Devil is presented in fashionable clothing, with the body of an animal and a snake around his leg, reflecting anxieties about the rising merchant class in Antwerp. Prints like these weren’t just religious instruction; they commented on the social structures of the time. They were affordable and mass-produced, so we see the concerns of the church being disseminated more widely through society. To fully appreciate Vellert's work, we might consult period sermons or economic histories of Antwerp. Art history is enriched by understanding the world in which it was made.