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The Prodigal Son Bids Farewell to His Father

Theodoor van Thulden

1638

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

The Prodigal Son Bids Farewell to His Father is a 1638 ink by Theodoor van Thulden, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Theodoor van Thulden
When & what style?: 1638 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a tense moment between a young man and his father. The son stands at the center, clutching a bundle, while his father reaches out but looks away. Around them, other figures watch—some with hands clasped, others turned aside. The background is packed with buildings and a ship in the distance, like a stage set. The son’s torn clothes and the father’s heavy robe hint at a story of leaving. The artist used sharp lines to show emotion, like the father’s stiff posture and the son’s slumped shoulders. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one carved images into metal plates.