Allegorie met het brede en smalle pad before 1645

Gillis van Breen’s etching "Allegorie met het brede en smalle pad" (Allegory of the Broad and Narrow Path), dating from before 1645, is a striking depiction of a moral choice. The scene shows a young man being pulled in two directions by allegorical figures. One, a woman, represents the broad path of earthly pleasures, while the other, a winged angel, symbolizes the narrow path of virtue. The detailed background adds depth to the allegory, suggesting a choice between worldly temptations and a higher spiritual calling. This work, now in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the artist's skill and the timeless appeal of moral dilemmas.