The Prodigal Son
Original title: The Prodigal Son
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary treatments of the parable, Albrecht Dürer's engraving of about 1496 focuses on the moment when the prodigal son, naked and kneeling, seeks refuge among the pigs. Instead of a broad narrative stage, Dürer chooses compressed proximity to the animal and sets the action in a rural environment. The execution is exceedingly detailed and finely graded.
Description
In the foreground a bearded man in scanty clothing crouches, surrounded by a drove of pigs; one of the animals presses against him as if to suckle him, while others drink at a trough. Behind him stands a substantial farmhouse with a high roof, from which a plant grows upward, and along a path further buildings are lined up. In the middle ground and background additional figures and animals are distributed, including a horse and more pigs. The arrangement runs horizontally, the son forming the resting point; light falls evenly, without harsh shadows.
Context
Around 1496, in a phase when Dürer combined biblical subjects with impulses from the Italian Renaissance, this engraving came into being. The parable of the prodigal son was among the most popular motifs at the time, for it concerned repentance and divine forgiveness. Dürer located the action in a landscape reminiscent of Dutch or Franconian regions, thus creating a contemporary reference. The sheet was intended for individual sale and addressed collectors who appreciated fine printmaking.
Impact
A calm, almost idyllic mood lies over the sheet, and precisely therein lies its appeal: the son's humiliation stands in tension with the peaceful surroundings. The precise observation of human and animal demands prolonged looking and gives the scene a narrative pull.
Technique
Dürer worked this copperplate with a burin, driving it into the plate to gain fine lines and hatching that yield high detail and an even tone. The impressions were made on paper, and the plate was later reissued several times.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)