Wealth, plate five from Virtues and Vices 1549

Curator: "Wealth," plate five from Virtues and Vices, crafted in 1549 by Heinrich Aldegrever. It’s currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago. What strikes you first? Editor: Immediately, I see a kind of guardedness. There’s a central figure, a woman, holding both a chalice and a rather bulging sack. But it is like wealth personified is not completely unguarded. The architectural ruin that surrounds it points towards the fragility of wealth, perhaps? Curator: A potent observation! Structurally, the composition plays on contrasts—the solid forms of architecture versus the drapery's fluid lines; light etching strokes juxtaposed against densely shaded areas—establishing a tension mirroring wealth’s dual nature, both constructive and destructive. Editor: Aldegrever definitely uses traditional symbolism here. The chalice could be seen to symbolize spiritual wealth but balanced by the money sack she supports using a sword that pierces it, a suggestion of both conquest and vulnerability within material possessions. This brings layers to this complex figure, what is her psychology? Curator: Precisely! The linear precision and delicate cross-hatching that define the figures and background underscore Aldegrever's technical skill. Moreover, by using sharp angles of the ruin's design along with curves of the flowing hair creates interesting tension within this two-dimensional image, right? Editor: Without a doubt! Wealth is never merely material. Her gaze directs to no-one specifically, suggesting maybe indifference but is this about earthly gains, a cultural fascination with how fortunes shift? There’s a lot going on symbolically in what seems initially just a simple picture of a woman! Curator: By integrating architectural elements with the allegorical figure, Aldegrever highlights material possessions but there is also, potentially, a nod toward transience, where human accomplishment and architecture, too, crumble and give way over time. The ruin suggests a shift from medieval modes towards an enlightened view point, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely. I hadn't considered this from a broader societal shift to more self-aware society but it’s made this a particularly memorable piece. It also acts as a visual touchstone. Curator: Absolutely; let's keep those images resonating for today's audience too!