Gulzigheid 1575

This engraving titled ‘Gulzigheid’ or ‘Gluttony’ was made by an anonymous artist. Images like this one provided moral instruction during a period of religious and social upheaval. The piece reflects a society grappling with questions of sin, virtue, and the human condition. Here, we see a personification of ‘gluttony’ – a figure of excess shown drinking while holding a jug and leaning against a tree, beside a grazing ox. Representations of vice in art often involved gendered and classed dimensions. Gluttony, associated with uncontrolled desires, links to historical stereotypes about women’s lack of restraint, which in turn reinforces patriarchal norms. The presence of the ox can be seen as an additional symbol of wealth. The work invites us to reflect on cultural narratives around morality and identity, prompting us to consider how societal values are constructed and reinforced through visual representation.