Artwork
The prodigal son
The prodigal son is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Barend Graat. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Barend Graat’s 1661 oil painting titled *The Prodigal Son* belongs to the Dutch Golden Age. Executed in the mid‑seventeenth century, the work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection. It presents a domestic interior illuminated by a single source of light, drawing the viewer’s eye to a central female figure in a blue dress.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of heightened emotion: a woman, poised with a fan in her raised hand, commands the attention of several seated companions. Their gazes converge on her, suggesting a sudden revelation or dramatic announcement. A small dog at her feet adds a domestic touch, while two figures observed through a window hint at an external narrative linked to the biblical parable.
Technique & Style
Graat employs chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with a luminous glow on the woman’s face and hands. This stark lighting isolates the central figure against the dark walls, a compositional device common in Dutch interior paintings of the period. The careful modeling of flesh and fabric demonstrates the artist’s skill in rendering texture and depth with oil paint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1661, the painting reflects Graat’s activity as a painter, printmaker, and draughtsman in the Dutch Republic. It entered the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains on display, providing insight into the artist’s oeuvre and the broader visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Barend Graat (21 September 1628, Amsterdam – 4 November 1709, Amsterdam), was a Dutch painter of history- and altarpieces, landscapes and portraits in the Golden Age. He is also known as a printmaker and draughtsman.
