The Wise Virgins Refuse Oil to the Foolish Virgins 1630 - 1640

This etching by Abraham Bosse, *The Wise Virgins Refuse Oil to the Foolish Virgins*, depicts a scene from the biblical parable of the ten virgins. The print, created between 1630 and 1640, shows a stark contrast between the wise virgins, who are prepared with oil for their lamps, and the foolish virgins, who are left in the darkness. The scene is set in a grand hall, illuminated by a single source of light, highlighting the dramatic tension of the moment. This artwork, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the use of etching as a powerful tool for conveying both narrative and moral lessons.