Proverbs

I had to face the question: How do I picture contrast?

I chose to depict wisdom in the light and folly in the shadows.
When I thought about the ability to discern the difference between them, I could not help picturing “hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil.” These three figures appear along the bottom of the painting.
Beside the “speak no evil” figure stands Folly, represented as a court jester. The man in the lower right holds a black stone, and the small checkerboard above his head represents a game of chance. The man above him holds fortune-telling cards and is overindulging in wine.
Farther up on the right, you can see a prostitute inviting a customer inside. At the corner of the wall, another man reflects upon the suffering brought about by his foolish choices.
On the left, just above the “hear no evil” figure, a man receives a laurel wreath in recognition of his accomplishments. Near the next doorway, an elderly scholar teaches three young people, while two adults passing by pause to listen and show their approval.
Farther up, you can see family members going about their ordinary lives in the light.
If you look closely at the man just above the “speak no evil” figure, you will notice that he is standing with one leg on each side of the boundary between light and darkness. He must decide which direction he will take.
And so must we.
Throughout Proverbs, wisdom and folly are contrasted with one another. Wise and foolish choices are connected with consequences, reward and penalty, life and destruction.
The question is not merely whether we can recognize the difference.
The question is: Which way will we choose?