Zondige jongeren laten kansen schieten 1603

Theodoor Galle created this engraving, "Zondige jongeren laten kansen schieten", around the turn of the 17th century. Galle was part of a vibrant printmaking scene in Antwerp, a city at the crossroads of religious and political upheaval. This piece is a morality tale, emblematic of its time. We see allegorical figures representing lost opportunities and fleeting time, while "sinful youths" scramble to catch up, a commentary on the ephemerality of youth and the consequences of vice. It suggests a society grappling with change, anxious about the passage of time and moral decay. Prints like these weren't just art; they were tools for teaching and social commentary. Galle's work encourages a dialogue about values, and the intersection of personal choices and societal well-being, reminding us of the weight of decisions, and the ever-present ticking clock.