1558
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Gluttony is a 1558 ink by Pieter van der Heyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving is packed with tiny, chaotic scenes. On the left, a giant head with a crown holds a pipe, surrounded by people eating, drinking, and playing instruments. In the center, a tree grows from a pile of food and people climb it. To the right, a shipwreck and a burning building show more chaos. The bottom has Latin text, and the whole image feels crowded and messy. The artist used fine lines to create depth and texture, making the scenes look busy but detailed. The mix of eating, drinking, and destruction suggests a warning about overindulgence. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one used metal plates to create prints.
Pieter van der Heyden (c. 1530 - after March 1572) was a Flemish printmaker who is known for his reproductive engravings after works by leading Flemish painters and designers of the 16th century.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
