Huichelarij neemt de plaats in van vroomheid 1604

This engraving by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, made in the 16th century, presents a complex allegorical scene rendered in meticulous detail. The composition is divided into distinct groupings, each contributing to the overall theme of hypocrisy supplanting virtue. Note how Coornhert uses the stark contrast between light and shadow to define forms and create depth. The figures are carefully arranged within the landscape, directing the viewer's eye across the narrative. The central figure embodies hypocrisy, laden with symbolic objects that betray her true nature. On her shoulder sits a monkey, a signifier of deceit. Observe the contrast between her pious appearance and the duplicitous symbols she carries. The allegorical scene isn't just a moral statement, it's an unpacking of how society itself is structured. The visual language employed by Coornhert invites us to question the surface appearances of piety and virtue, urging us to look deeper into the underlying realities of human behavior. In its play of light and shadow, the artwork challenges fixed meanings and asks us to decode the subtle signs of deception.