Fishermen on the river are trying to get a drowning man – hundreds of people watch this strange catch from the shore.
Contemporaries of the artist would immediately understand the significance of this amazing scene, without even taking into account the biblical motifs. The story depicted in the picture is the call of Jesus to his disciples: “I will make you fishers of men.” Adrian van de Vennes drew this story into shape and adapted to the contemporary religious and political situation.
At that time, religious conflicts and battles for political influence were not uncommon. The souls of drowning souls are Protestants and Catholics. This theory is confirmed by the supporters of fishermen, depicted on the shore.
On the left are the citizens of the northern Netherlands with the stadhauder Moritz Nassau, his brother Frederick Hendrik, and their allies portrayed behind the branch of the orange tree.
Probably, among the Protestants, located in the front, there is a self-portrait of the author.
To the right is the Catholic South with the Archduke Albert and his wife Isabella, the Spanish commander of Spinola, as well as the Pope, whom the cardinals carry. It is immediately evident who is on whose side the author: on the side of the Protestants, the leaves grow on the trees, and on the other side they wither.
Protestants, on the left, are caught with the help of the Bible and faith, hope and love, as it is written on the networks. Catholics, led by a bishop, are caught with the help of hymns and church vessels in the bow and stern of the boat.
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