Mådehold 1593

"Mådehold" (Moderation) is an etching by Dutch artist Jan Saenredam, created in 1593. The artwork depicts a female figure in profile, pouring liquid from a pitcher into a cup. The scene is framed by an arched doorway, with a coat of arms on each side. Saenredam's print is a powerful visual representation of the virtue of moderation, a key concept in the humanist thought of the Renaissance period. The female figure's delicate gestures and elegant drapery, combined with the architectural setting, contribute to the artwork's sense of refined beauty and moral weight.