Christus en de rijke jongeman 1485 - 1491

This small woodcut depicts Christ and the rich young man and was created in Antwerp by an anonymous artist. The young man, identified by the scroll bearing the biblical text, is shown walking away, clutching his purse tightly to his chest. The purse, a symbol of worldly wealth, reappears across centuries in varied contexts, from ancient Roman depictions of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, to medieval allegories of avarice. Note how in each instance, the purse signifies not just material wealth but also its associated psychological burdens: anxiety, greed, and ultimately, spiritual emptiness. The rich man’s averted gaze echoes in countless artistic renditions of rejection and regret, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, eliciting a profound sense of empathy or even self-recognition. Thus, these symbols cycle through time, continually reappearing, evolving, and acquiring new layers of meaning.