The Son Chased out of the Brothel, from The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Art Historical Context

In the vivid engraving *The Son Chased out of the Brothel*, from Crispijn van de Passe I series on *The Parable of thedigal Son*, we witness a dramatic moment from the biblical tale in Luke 15. The wayward son, having squandered his inheritance on riotous living, is roughly ejected from a brothel by an angry madam and her staff, his fine clothes torn and his downfall starkly illustrated. Created around 1600 by the renowned Dutch engraver Crispijn van de Passe I (1564–1637), this print captures the moral urgency of the parable, reminding viewers of sin's consequences and redemption's hope during the Protestant Reformation era. Van de Passe, a master of the Northern Mannerist style, excelled in intricate engravings that reproduced paintings and illustrated books, making art accessible to a wide audience amid the Dutch Republic's printmaking boom. Executed on luxurious ivory laid paper (plate: 23 × 18.4 cm), the technique involves incising fine lines into a metal plate with a burin, inking it, and pressing to create rich tonal contrasts and meticulous details—from the brothel's chaotic interior to the figures' expressive gestures. This medium was revolutionary for disseminating religious narratives, blending artistry with didactic power. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this work exemplifies early 17th-century graphic innovation, inviting reflection on human folly and grace in an age of moral storytelling through images.

About the Artist

Crispijn van de Passe, I · 1565–1637

Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, born around 1564 in the coastal town of Arnemuiden in Zeeland, emerged as a pivotal figure in Northern European printmaking during a turbulent era. He relocated to Antwerp at a young age, the bustling epicenter of engraving, where he trained and worked from 1580 onward, becoming a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in the 1584–1585 guild year. The Spanish siege and ...