Avarice 1545 - 1560

Léon Davent created this engraving, Avarice, during the mid-16th century, a time of immense social upheaval, religious conflict, and burgeoning capitalism. Davent's print reflects the moral anxieties of his era, using the visual language of allegory to critique the sin of greed. The print shows a scene of supplicants offering tribute to a regal figure seated amidst a hoard of treasure. Blindfolded figures are led forward, their gestures suggesting desperation and submission. In this context, consider how the composition reinforces a rigid social hierarchy, with power and wealth concentrated in the hands of a select few while others are left to beg for scraps. The detailed rendering of fabrics and precious objects highlights the seductive allure of material wealth. Davent's Avarice speaks to the timeless struggle between material desire and spiritual fulfillment. While the social structures of the 16th century may seem distant, the emotional and psychological dynamics of greed remain strikingly relevant today.