The Rich Man at His Table, from The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus 1554

Curator: Heinrich Aldegrever created this engraving, “The Rich Man at His Table, from The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus,” in 1554. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My first impression is one of overwhelming indulgence. It feels almost grotesquely lavish, capturing a moment of excessive earthly pleasure. Curator: Absolutely. Aldegrever was a master printmaker, and his skill is evident in the intricate details of the scene. Look at the way he renders the texture of the clothing, the fine lines that define the faces, and the overall density of the composition. Editor: Indeed. I find it striking how many visual symbols are packed in this seemingly simple banquet scene. The servants attending to the diners' every need, the musical instruments, and even the act of bathing feet all point towards the wealth and self-absorption of this rich man in the biblical parable. It makes you think about how such iconography was instantly recognizable to viewers in the 16th century. Curator: The very act of creating a print allowed for the wider dissemination of such moralizing messages. Prints are inherently about the social consumption of images. And considering the religious upheaval of the Reformation era, Aldegrever, although Lutheran, treads carefully, using popular narratives to express complex social criticisms. The line between "high" art and common didactic imagery blurs considerably in printmaking of this period. The act of dining is visualized not merely as pleasure but also as a form of labor for many shown here. Editor: Yes, it is thought-provoking how a domestic activity transforms into such a moral tableau. This one reminds me of how powerful imagery can become in encapsulating values of greed, wealth, but also social structures. It is really an unforgettable table, rich with symbolism. Curator: I concur, after investigating the construction of the composition and what the printing method allowed, I find its density quite interesting still to this day. Editor: And that contrast, between material detail and metaphorical representation, continues to resonate strongly with us today.