Original sin is a foundational narrative. Eve, charmed by a serpent, disobeys God and bites into the forbidden fruit. The image is indelible. Images of the seven deadly sins, however, are not likewise etched in stone. European artists took this freedom and ran with it, exploring scenes of proper and improper behavior that ranged from charity and courtship to gluttony and lust. While legal codes enforced social norms, these paintings illustrated the period’s ideological standards from the 16th to 19th century. Were they encouraging this sinful behavior or condemning it? These 32 works depicting both sides of the coin let you decide for yourself. —Maggie Turner