De deugden op deez'prent vermeld, maakt dat gij die betracht; / Maar d' ondeugd die gij er ook ziet, zorgt dat g'u daar voor wacht 1819 - 1840

This series of etchings by Alexander Cranendoncq, made in the Netherlands in the 19th century, illustrates virtues and vices, aiming to educate through visual allegory. Note the motif of 'bad company' shown in one scene. We can trace it back to medieval morality plays. Consider how this motif appears in Renaissance paintings, where gatherings often foreshadow darker events, reflecting a culture grappling with shifting social structures. The fear of corrupting influences—a recurrent theme across centuries. Observe how each image evokes a sense of immediacy. There's an almost primal understanding of human behavior at play here. The artist taps into collective anxieties about moral decay and the allure of temptation. The cyclical journey of these symbols reveals an ongoing negotiation between individual will and societal expectations.