Drie voorstellingen van goede dingen en drie voorstellingen van kwade dingen in het leven 1837 - 1838

Victor Adam created this print, "Three Representations of Good Things and Three Representations of Bad Things in Life," in the 19th century. Adam, active during a period of significant social change, presents a moralistic view of life's dualities through detailed lithography. The left side of the print depicts scenes of labor and rural life, such as farmers working the fields, which evoke a sense of pastoral harmony, although there is certainly labor involved. In contrast, the right side plunges us into scenes of disaster: a flood, a battlefield, and destitution. Here, we witness humanity at its most vulnerable, caught in the throes of natural and social calamities. Adam prompts us to consider the precariousness of existence and the thin line between prosperity and despair. This piece also reflects the socio-economic anxieties of the time, reminding us of the ever-present shadows of poverty and conflict. The emotional weight of these scenes invites a personal reflection on our own place within such cycles of fortune and misfortune.