Allegory of Miserliness In one of his lesser-known paintings, the allegory of greed, Albrecht Dürer symbolically depicts the transience of life, based on an old woman, heavily marked by the traces of time. The naked, drooping breast of the woman additionally plays on the related loss of external beauty. In addition, the woman holds a sack full of money in her hand, which in conjunction with her dilapidated beauty represents a broader symbolism on the transience of earthly goods and material possessions. There are various theories for the creation of the picture. One says that Dürer was inspired by a similar painting by Giorgione called Col Tiemp (With Age) to demonstrate his equality with the painter's abilities. Another theory, in turn, says he would have wanted to take revenge on a woman for whom he had already made a portrait, but had not been rewarded in line with his expectations.

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Allegory of Greed by Albrecht Dürer. Available as an art print on canvas, photo paper, watercolor board, uncoated paper or Japanese paper.
woman · dress · coins · breast · hair · armpit · hands · teeth · age