Wijsheden van Jezus Sirach 1547 - 1591

This engraving by Gerard de Jode presents scenes from the apocryphal book of Jesus Sirach, offering moral lessons that were part of the 16th-century humanist revival. During this time, the societal structures of class and wealth, as depicted here, were being critically examined through a religious lens. The vignettes— from feasting to illness, wealth to poverty—illustrate the precariousness of human existence, reminding us of the ever-present specter of morality. The intention was to guide viewers towards a virtuous life, in line with Christian doctrine. The scenes reveal the period's anxieties about wealth and poverty, health and sickness, offering a glimpse into the social fabric of the time. They also invite us to consider how the lessons resonate, or don't, with our own contemporary concerns.