Allegorie op de hoogmoed 1578 - 1597

This is Conrad Goltz’s, “Allegory of Pride,” a print, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Within an elaborate frame adorned with allegorical figures, a richly dressed woman stares into a mirror, her peacock-feathered fan and elaborate gown symbolizing vanity and excess. This piece reflects the moralizing tone of the late 16th century, a period grappling with the visible displays of wealth and power amidst social inequality. Consider how pride, often gendered as feminine, was depicted as a destructive force, leading to moral decay. The surrounding figures representing other deadly sins like greed, envy and lust, suggest pride's entanglement with broader societal ills. Goltz doesn't merely condemn; the inscription suggests that recognizing sin is useful, yet doesn't erase punishment. This engraving then, serves as both a critique of superficiality and an acknowledgment of the complexities of human nature. It invites us to confront the allure and the consequences of vanity within our own lives.