1654
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Allegory of Poverty and Wealth is a 1654 ink by Conrad Meyer, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of five people around a table covered in pots, pans, and food. The man on the right wears a fancy hat and coat, while the woman next to him looks down. A child sits at the table, reaching for something. The people on the left seem tired or sad, with one holding a small child. The background is blurry, but you can see a window and shelves with more dishes. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show the difference between the rich man’s fine clothes and the others’ worn-out looks. The table is piled with cooking tools—some fancy, some plain—hinting at a story about money and survival. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists use layers of lines to create depth.
Conrad Meyer (1618 Zürich – 1689 Zürich) was a painter, engraver, and medallist of Zürich.
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