Allegorie met strijd van Tirannie, Woeker en Hypocrisie tegen Verstand, Gerechtigheid en het Woord Gods 1525

Editor: This engraving from 1525, titled *Allegory with the struggle of Tyranny, Usury, and Hypocrisy against Reason, Justice, and the Word of God,* is by Peter Flötner. It strikes me as a really busy composition, and the figures are intense. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, this piece is dense, but intentionally so. It’s from a period of immense religious and social upheaval, the early Reformation. Look at how Flötner uses allegory – the personifications of tyranny, usury, and hypocrisy literally trampling figures representing reason and justice. It’s a powerful statement about the forces he saw as oppressing society. How does this blatant imagery read for you, considering our current social and political landscape? Editor: It makes me think about current struggles with misinformation and systemic injustices, like it's history repeating itself. It feels super relevant! Curator: Precisely! And notice how "The Word of God" is included. This work champions scripture against corruption and flawed power structures. It can be read as a condemnation of wealth inequality, a sentiment that persists even today. Do you think this work empowers or demoralizes the viewer? Editor: I think it’s empowering! Seeing these concepts visualized makes the struggle seem real but also something you can fight against. Curator: Exactly. It encourages critical thinking. The print medium itself also makes it a very democratic image because it could reach a much broader audience than a painting for a wealthy patron. It suggests the artist was actively trying to inspire resistance, much like artists today address social inequalities. Editor: That’s fascinating. I never considered the medium itself as a political statement! Thanks for helping me unpack all that! Curator: Of course. Art is rarely created in a vacuum. Thinking about the context reveals the artist's intentions and how the work speaks to us now.