XXXIV Laet duncken 1614

This engraving, "XXXIV Laet duncken," was created by Roemer Visscher, a Dutch writer and merchant, around the turn of the 17th century. It's a page from a book titled "Van de Sinne poppen" meaning "Of the Puppet Mind". Visscher uses the image of a peacock admiring its own reflection to comment on human vanity. During the Dutch Golden Age, social status was increasingly tied to material wealth. Visscher critiques the ways in which people, like peacocks, flaunted their wealth through clothing, possessions, and servants. The text accompanying the image elaborates on the dangers of pride, suggesting that those who indulge in such displays are ultimately emptier for it. The image serves as a cautionary tale against the superficiality of a society obsessed with appearances. It reminds us that true worth lies not in material possessions, but in inner virtue.