Weegschaal met een olielamp aan de ene zijde en speelkaarten en juwelen aan de andere 1751 - 1816

This print, etched by Reinier Vinkeles, features a scale with an oil lamp on one side, and playing cards and jewels on the other. The scales, a powerful symbol, evoke the scales of justice, but here, they weigh wisdom and virtue against worldly pleasures. We can trace this motif back to ancient Egypt, where the weighing of the heart ceremony judged the soul's worth. Here, instead of a heart, we see earthly temptations weighed against enlightenment. The lamp, a symbol of knowledge, recalls the lamps of the ancient philosophers, while the playing cards and jewels echo the vanities often depicted in Dutch still life paintings. This symbolism speaks to our collective memory, tapping into the subconscious struggle between ephemeral pleasures and enduring wisdom. It’s a visual metaphor for our human condition, reminding us that these age-old struggles continue to shape our lives.