A Foolish Virgin 1475 - 1491

This engraving by Martin Schongauer, titled "A Foolish Virgin," is a striking portrayal of a young woman with a contemplative expression. Created between 1475 and 1491, the artwork depicts the woman holding an empty oil lamp, a symbolic representation of her folly in not being prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. Schongauer's masterful use of line and detail, along with the evocative imagery, makes this engraving a compelling example of 15th-century Northern Renaissance art.