Tegenspoed verheft de mens 1679

"Tegenspoed verheft de mens" (Adversity elevates man) is an etching by the Flemish artist Gaspar Bouttats, dated 1679. This small print, housed in the Rijksmuseum, uses an allegorical image to depict a moral message. A figure in an elaborate interior throws a ball towards a doorway with an ornate frame. The ball is flying upwards, symbolizing overcoming challenges and achieving a higher state. This print illustrates a common theme in 17th-century art, reflecting the belief that adversity strengthens the human spirit.