Anger (Ira) from The Seven Deadly Sins 1558

This engraving, *Anger (Ira) from The Seven Deadly Sins,* was made in 1558 by Pieter van der Heyden, after a drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Its grotesque figures and chaotic scene are a window into the anxieties of the 16th century. The print is teeming with violence and turmoil, illustrating anger as both a personal failing and a societal ill. The central figure, a woman embodying wrath, rides a barrel filled with fighting figures. Here, we see the period’s attitude toward women, associating them with sin and disorder. Yet, there’s also a critique of social hierarchies, with soldiers and commoners alike succumbing to rage. Hieronymus Bosch was a major influence on Bruegel. Echoes of Bosch's visions of hell and moral failings resound in this work, and are a powerful expression of human folly. This image makes me consider how easily anger consumes and corrupts, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. It's a stark reminder of how unchecked emotions can lead to widespread destruction, a theme that continues to resonate today.