Albrecht Dürer 1471 – 1528

The Prodigal Son among the Pigs

copper-plate (261 × 202 mm) — 1497
Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe

Albrecht Dürer biography

This work is linked to Luke 15:17

Dürer put his version of the prodigal son against a German-looking background, thus emphasizing the naturalism of the picture. The son kneels on a pile of manure, where he finally comes to his senses.

Before making the final engraving, Dürer made at least one preparatory drawing.

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