Hebzucht (Avarice) - Heinrich Aldegrever

A 1532 engraving by German Little Master Heinrich Aldegrever, depicting the allegorical figure of Avarice riding a bear.

Heinrich Aldegrever, a member of the group known as the Little Masters, produced this engraving in 1532. The work depicts the personification of Avarice, or Hebzucht, as part of a series exploring the seven deadly sins. The figure sits atop a bear, a creature often associated with greed and gluttony in sixteenth-century iconography. The rider holds a flag emblazoned with a small animal, while a bird of prey perches upon a coat of arms in the background. The composition is typical of Aldegrever's output, which often featured small-scale, highly detailed figures set against minimal backgrounds.

The artist employs a precise, controlled line to define the musculature of the bear and the folds of the rider's garments. The shading is achieved through careful cross-hatching, a technique that provides volume to the forms despite the lack of a complex spatial environment. The inclusion of the artist's monogram and the date at the bottom of the frame is characteristic of his practice, ensuring clear identification of his authorship. This print reflects the moralising tone common in German art of the period, where allegorical subjects were frequently used to comment on human behaviour and societal vices.

Aldegrever was based in Soest and was influenced by the work of Albrecht Dürer, though he developed a distinct style that favoured elongated proportions and a specific approach to decorative detail. This engraving demonstrates his technical proficiency with the burin, allowing for a clarity of line that remains legible even in small formats. The work is a representative example of the print culture that flourished in the Holy Roman Empire during the early sixteenth century, where such images were collected by scholars and art enthusiasts alike.