Personificatie van Hebzucht 1670 - 1682

Editor: So here we have "Personification of Avarice," an engraving by Melchior Küsel, dating from 1670 to 1682. There's something almost regal about this figure, sitting amongst all these treasures...but also quite desolate. What catches your eye when you look at this print? Curator: Oh, isn't she glorious? And doesn’t the artist capture greed so cleverly? She sits there, surrounded by finery, yes, but imprisoned by it too. Those objects weigh her down. Have you noticed how Küsel uses line? Sharp, definite, it’s all so precise. Like the cage Avarice has built for herself! Do you see that staff she’s holding? A symbol of power, yes, but it's also like a barrier, pushing the world away, lest someone takes some of her beloved treasure. What do you think of that dichotomy? Editor: I see what you mean! It's not just a picture of wealth, it's a commentary. And the detail is incredible, you can almost feel the weight of the jewels. Does the city in the background play any role? Curator: Absolutely. That classical architecture speaks to ambition, to empires built and lost. It whispers, doesn’t it, of the fleeting nature of worldly possessions? Of the emptiness that even the grandest achievements can’t fill? Editor: I hadn't considered that before, that she is actually quite alone despite everything surrounding her. It certainly provides some food for thought about ambition and satisfaction! Curator: Exactly. It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? The artist turns a moral idea into something tangible, a warning, perhaps, about the true cost of greed.