Vernuft en de boetvaardige mens 1546 - 1562

"Vernuft en de boetvaardige mens" (Reason and the Penitent Man), a 16th-century engraving by Frans Huys, presents a powerful allegorical depiction of the struggle between temptation and repentance. The left panel shows a blindfolded female figure, "Vernuft" (Reason), carrying a torch and running away from a fallen figure, symbolizing the allure of worldly temptations. The right panel depicts a penitent man kneeling in prayer before an altar, representing the choice to seek forgiveness and spiritual guidance. This artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into the moral and religious dilemmas faced by individuals in the 16th century.