Avarice (Avaritia) from the series The Seven Deadly Sins 1558

Curator: Pieter van der Heyden's 1558 engraving, "Avarice (Avaritia) from the series The Seven Deadly Sins," offers a fascinating, if grim, visual compendium of greed. Editor: Oh, wow. My first impression? Overwhelming! Like a fever dream where all the anxieties of modern capitalism burst onto the scene. There's a manic energy radiating from the density of the lines and the sheer number of little… scenes. Curator: Exactly! The detail is astounding. As a product of the Northern Renaissance, the piece embodies a distinct didactic tone and style. These engravings aimed to critique social vices, and this is a masterclass in that regard, meant to visualize and perhaps curb excess and exploitation in its viewing public. Editor: I see the visual references to hell...those dark figures pouring out what appears to be a never ending flow of coins. Talk about making the audience uncomfortable in what is essentially meant as an entertaining and light art encounter! It looks as though we should keep our purses away to avoid a damning interaction. It feels quite urgent in a strange way. Curator: Its didactic function operates at several levels, including this moral dimension but extends into societal commentary. The printing press was allowing for the broad dissemination of images, fostering a new public discourse around behavior and societal roles. It's art as social instruction manual. Editor: I'm drawn to the sheer chaos within the detailed scenes...everyone scrambling to grab everything they can with not an ounce of ethical consideration. In a weird way it's as good an example of current market values and social media outrage as any news outlet, almost predicting it all somehow. Makes me consider if we have made any moral progress at all? Curator: That's what makes these engravings so endlessly compelling. They’re artifacts of a particular historical moment, yes, but they reflect enduring anxieties about human nature and the structures we build. "Avarice" isn't just a historical piece, it’s an ever-relevant conversation starter. Editor: Agreed. Makes me want to count all my pennies then burn them. I am curious what its reception might have been when this debuted centuries ago. Were people rioting and looting or in deep and productive contemplation? A great piece indeed to generate such powerful questions and reactions.