Deugd en Eer 1584 - 1588

This small, undated etching titled "Deugd en Eer," or "Virtue and Honor" was created by Hendrick Goltzius and is held at the Rijksmuseum. We see two figures intertwined. One is an older, bearded man who represents virtue; beside him, Honor holds a pyramid and a laurel wreath hovers above her head. The pyramid symbolizes steadfastness and incorruptibility, reaching back to ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife. Meanwhile, the laurel wreath, an emblem of triumph since ancient Greece, signifies the glory achieved through virtuous conduct. These symbols evoke a psychoanalytic resonance. The collective memory of humanity recognizes the pyramid as a symbol of enduring power and the laurel wreath as an acknowledgement of excellence, tapping into our deep-seated desires for recognition and permanence. These aren't just images; they are cultural artifacts. Their reappearance across time shows our ongoing dialogue with the ideals of virtue and honor. They adapt, evolve, and continue to influence our understanding of morality.