Allegorie met de Mens, de Ondervinding, de Onnozelheid en Goddelijke Liefde 1777

Reinier Vinkeles’s 1777 etching *Allegorie met de Mens, de Ondervinding, de Onnozelheid en Goddelijke Liefde* depicts a scene of allegorical figures, characteristic of Dutch art during this period. The image shows a group of four figures in a forest setting. A woman, possibly representing "experience," is shown seated and pointing with a staff toward another woman, representing "man." A third figure, likely "innocence," stands before them, while a small child representing "divine love" kneels in the foreground. The work is a powerful example of allegorical imagery, which served to convey moral lessons and philosophical ideas to viewers in the 18th century. The image is a fine example of Reinier Vinkeles's skill in etching, a popular technique for creating prints in the 18th century.