Avarice (Avaritia) from the series The Seven Deadly Sins 1558

"Avarice (Avaritia)" is a 1558 etching by Pieter van der Heyden, part of his series "The Seven Deadly Sins." The print, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a chaotic scene with numerous figures obsessed with wealth and material possessions. The artist uses a detailed and intricate style to showcase the sin of avarice through grotesque imagery and symbolism, including a woman counting coins and a man with a bottomless sack, highlighting the insatiable nature of greed. This etching provides a commentary on the dangers of material obsession in 16th-century society, illustrating the destructive nature of avarice through its visual storytelling.