Avarice - Heinrich Aldegrever

A detailed 1552 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicting the allegorical figure of Avarice riding a wolf.

This engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever, dated 1552, depicts the personification of Avarice. As a member of the Little Masters, a group of German printmakers known for their small-scale, highly detailed works, Aldegrever demonstrates his technical mastery through precise line work and complex iconography. The central figure, a woman representing greed, sits atop a wolf, an animal traditionally associated with predatory behaviour and gluttony. She holds a standard featuring a flayed animal, a symbol of the destructive nature of hoarding and material obsession.

To the left, a vulture perches upon a pile of objects, reinforcing the theme of scavenging and decay. The wolf itself carries a bird in its jaws, further emphasising the theme of consumption. The composition is tightly controlled, typical of the mid-sixteenth-century German print tradition, where moralising allegories were common subjects for collectors. The Latin inscription at the base provides a textual anchor for the visual narrative, warning against the moral failings associated with the vice of avarice.

Aldegrever was based in Soest and was heavily influenced by the work of Albrecht Dürer. His prints often feature sharp, clean lines and a clear sense of volume, despite the small format. This piece is part of a series exploring the seven vices, a popular subject for artists of the period who sought to provide visual instruction on ethical conduct. The clarity of the engraving allows for a close examination of the textures, from the fur of the wolf to the folds of the woman's drapery. It remains a fine example of the technical skill and intellectual rigour present in sixteenth-century printmaking.