Embleem met engel die man toont hoe hij deugd en zonde tegen elkaar af moet wegen 1620 - 1649

This engraving presents an emblem of moral reckoning, guiding man through the weighing of virtue against sin. At the heart of the image, a balance dominates, a symbol resonating from ancient Egypt with its judgment scenes, to medieval allegories of justice. On one side, an angel representing virtue kneels, weighed down, yet ascending toward divine light. Conversely, the scales tip towards sin, embodied by grotesque figures reveling in earthly pleasures, destined for the fiery abyss. This motif of moral weighing echoes in countless artistic traditions. The duality between light and darkness, salvation and damnation, speaks to our deepest fears and desires. The artist taps into a collective memory, a subconscious awareness of the consequences of our choices, engaging the viewer in a powerful, introspective dialogue. Through centuries, this symbolic balance resurfaces. It evolves from the scales of gods to the moral compass of man, constantly challenging us to confront our own internal struggles between virtue and vice.