Material Goods
One thing is certain: everywhere and at all times, the topic of poverty and wealth has always remained a hot topic. But how was it perceived in the Middle Ages? Personifications, among other things, shed light on this question. They depict the two terms in different ways and must adopt a certain stance, for the handling of material goods has to be decided from a religious point of view. A life in poverty, money versus love, the proper food for the fasting period – all these topics are dealt with in texts and images and with the help of personifications. They visualise the fact that a decision involving voluntary renunciation of wealth and pleasure gives rise to two opposing perspectives, each with its own consequences.
