The Rich Man Transported to Hell, from The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, from The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus 1554

Heinrich Aldegrever created this engraving, "The Rich Man Transported to Hell," in 1554. The composition, packed into a small rectangle, presents a scene dominated by strong contrasts of light and shadow, rendered through meticulous cross-hatching. Formally, the print is divided into two registers, each teeming with activity. Above, winged demons carry the rich man, their grotesque forms rendered with precise detail. Below, devils prepare the ground, their muscular bodies and beastly features contributing to a sense of chaotic energy. This division underscores a moral judgment, contrasting the earthly wealth of the rich man with his infernal fate. The textures – from the demons’ leathery wings to the rough rock of hell – are all carefully delineated. Aldegrever uses a semiotic language, a system of visual signs, to deliver his moralizing message. The meticulous detail and sharp contrasts serve not only an aesthetic purpose but also an ideological one, warning against the vanities of earthly life and the consequences of ignoring divine law. The artwork destabilizes the traditional values of wealth, power, and social status.