Deugd verdrijft ondeugden 1679 - 1702

"Deugd verdrijft ondeugden" (Virtue Drives Out Vice) is an anonymous etching from the late 17th century. The print depicts a dramatic scene of a winged, armored figure vanquishing a group of figures embodying vice. The central figure, possibly a representation of Virtue, uses a sword to dispel the vices who are being chased away in a whirlwind of smoke. This artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies the popular moralizing theme of 17th-century Dutch art, emphasizing the importance of virtue and the consequences of vice. The etching's small size, measuring 191 mm by 155 mm, suggests it may have been part of a series of prints intended for a domestic audience.