Oude vrouw als personificatie van Gierigheid telt geld 1612 - 1665

Curator: This engraving from the Dutch Golden Age, titled "Old Woman as Personification of Avarice Counting Money," presents a truly unforgettable image. It’s attributed to Cornelis van Dalen I, dating roughly between 1612 and 1665, and we are fortunate enough to have it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Goodness, she’s practically radiating discontent! It's not just her wrinkled face, but the possessive way she clutches those coins, even with stacks of them already there. I find it a little chilling, but fascinating. Curator: The piece is steeped in symbolism, playing on the vanitas theme, which was incredibly popular in the Baroque period. The artist is trying to tell us something, don't you think? Editor: Definitely. Avarice, or greed, represented by the old woman is clearly meant to be seen as one of humanity's flaws, as suggested by her being surrounded by riches she seems incapable of enjoying. It strikes me that those pearls might even be tears if you imagine them just right. Curator: That's an interesting take! Her lined face contrasts quite sharply with the smooth surfaces of the pearls. Also, consider the candle that is set to burn away –a memento mori, like a little visual reminder about our inevitable decline. Editor: True, like life just melting away, all while this character remains obsessively rooted in the material. I love how this image manages to capture not only greed, but also its spiritual cost, with no subtlety. It feels timeless, doesn’t it? We all know someone consumed by a craving for something more. Curator: Yes, and this is what gives a lot of these works their eternal appeal. It transcends generations and touches on some universal qualities that we all can relate to, which makes us pause for reflection. Editor: Right. In a sense, seeing this engraving becomes a prompt to turn that same gaze onto ourselves. "Am I so different?" I think, and I like to believe art is at its most useful when asking us tough questions like this one.