De Mens door Ongehoorzaamheid gebonden en door Zonde gedreven 1546 - 1562

Frans Huys created this print, “De Mens door Ongehoorzaamheid gebonden en door Zonde gedreven,” sometime in the mid-16th century. During this period, humanism and religious reformations were reshaping European thought and art. The print presents a divided view of humanity, split between obedience and sin. On the left, we see figures bound by disobedience, their postures conveying struggle and constraint. On the right, figures are driven by sin. The nudity of the figures brings an emotional vulnerability to the work, reflecting the fragile state of humanity caught between divine law and earthly desires. The artwork reflects anxieties around moral choice, and explores themes of free will versus predestination, which were central to the Reformation. The print does not shy away from depicting the consequences of moral transgression. It serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present tension between human will and religious doctrine.