Death and the Miser (detail) 1516

Hieronymus Bosch painted this detail of "Death and the Miser" sometime before his death in 1516. During this period, the rise of mercantile capitalism in Europe led to new anxieties around wealth, morality, and salvation. Here we see an old man, caught between worldly riches and his impending death. Clutching his rosary, he seems to reach for salvation, but his eyes are focused on the chest overflowing with gold. Death, in the form of a skeleton, lurks nearby, ready to claim his soul. A demon pops up from the chest, offering him yet another bag of coins. The choice between spiritual salvation and material wealth is laid bare. Bosch masterfully captures the psychological tension of a society grappling with the lure and the dangers of material wealth. He seems to ask, what good is money when death comes knocking? It’s a question that resonates even today, as we continue to navigate our complex relationship with money and morality.