The Foolish Virgins Rejected 1630 - 1640

Curator: This is "The Foolish Virgins Rejected," an engraving by Abraham Bosse, dating from between 1630 and 1640. It resides here at the Metropolitan Museum. What’s your take on this visual parable? Editor: Immediately, there's a sharp divide in mood—a sense of impending doom on the right with the group of women and the contrasting hopeful scene of the virgins bathed in heavenly light near those grand columns on the left. What does it all represent? Curator: It depicts a biblical scene from the Gospel of Matthew—the parable of the ten virgins. Five are prepared, holding oil for their lamps to light the way, and five are caught unprepared, out of oil. Bosse captured the moment the unprepared, the 'foolish' virgins, are denied entrance to the wedding feast. Editor: The composition is so stark. I’m particularly drawn to the clothing: the sharp pleats, crisp collars, and exaggerated silhouettes capture this moment of social unease through how they're trying to look as "proper" and “prepared” as they can. Curator: You're right, the attire screams social status, and highlights the message that material possessions aren't as important as preparedness in life. Think of this artwork’s time in history; France, specifically Paris, saw this print distributed across the country, embedding religion in domestic life. This reflects the anxieties during a period when religious dogma permeated everyday experience. Editor: It's unsettling how topical the subject matter seems today. Beyond religion, the engraving’s exploration of societal judgment—being cast aside from a gate, barred entry. We constantly perform acts of preparation: the ways we’re “supposed” to be and appear at the moment's notice, “just in case.” Curator: Precisely! The stark rendering helps solidify that message through dramatic light and shadow play. Those harsh shadows amplify the themes of judgement and isolation in Bosse's work. There's beauty in its starkness. Editor: Yes, now the drama unfolds more as it continues. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Join us next time to explore some other narratives!