Zondige jongeren letten niet op tijd en kansen 1610

This engraving, made by Theodoor Galle, warns against the heedlessness of youth, showcasing potent symbols of time and opportunity. At the heart of the image, a winged, devilish figure looms, representing lost opportunity, specifically "Occasio". This echoes the classical motif of "Kairos," the fleeting moment one must seize, as seen in ancient Greek sculptures. In the hands of impish figures, banners declare "Gratis eritis" and "Tempus ades!", urging the arrival of time. This harks back to the Roman personification of Tempus, often depicted as an old man, reflecting the relentless passage of time. The composition recalls the dance of death, a medieval allegory, where figures are dragged along by Death, mirroring here the futile efforts to recapture lost time. The emotional resonance lies in the figures’ desperate gestures, a visual echo of humanity's eternal struggle against time's relentless march. The image’s power rests in its cyclical nature. The motifs of time and opportunity reappear throughout art history, demonstrating the enduring human preoccupation with seizing the moment before it vanishes.