Ondeugden van jongeren 1650 - 1695

Gaspar Bouttats created this etching, "Ondeugden van jongeren," which translates to "Vices of Youth," sometime in the late 17th century. This was a period marked by rigid social hierarchies and moral codes, and societal anxieties were often expressed through art. In this small, busy print, Bouttats presents a tiered view of youthful indiscretions. We see gambling, drinking, fighting, and debauchery, all activities that would have been frowned upon by the more straight-laced members of Dutch society at the time. The figures, all young men, are rendered with a critical eye, their excesses presented as a cautionary tale. One might consider how class plays a role here. Is Bouttats commenting on the behavior of the privileged, or is he admonishing the lower classes for their lack of restraint? Ultimately, "Vices of Youth" reflects the tensions between freedom and responsibility, pleasure and piety, and the perennial struggle to define what it means to be young and virtuous.