What Does True Freedom Look Like?

How can we avoid being trapped by the fleeting pleasures of this world?

Imagine this: you’re hopping on one leg, rolling an egg carefully across the floor, trying to cover it with a wooden bowl. If the egg rolls outside the circle or gets broken, you lose. But if you’re the first to cover it, you win. The prize? A basket of eggs. 

This lively, unusual game is the subject of The Egg Dance, a painting by Pieter Aertsen, known as “Tall Pete.” Aertsen specialized in scenes of everyday life but often embedded spiritual lessons within his work. This particular piece, held in the Rijksmuseum, shows a group of peasants—likely in a tavern or brothel. On the right, a man performs the egg dance to the tune of a bagpiper. The floor is scattered with onions, leeks, and mussels, symbols of fertility and indulgence in the 16th century. 

At the table, occult tarot cards lie in view—one showing the Joker, the other a leaping goat—symbols hinting at foolishness and superstition. Nearby, a drunk man places a hand on a young woman’s shoulder, signaling unwanted sexual advances, while precariously holding a vase overhead. Even the bagpiper pauses, anticipating disaster. 

Beyond the colorful chaos, Aertsen offers more than a glimpse into peasant life. This painting serves as a warning—against lust, excess, and moral failure. The scene’s mix of alcohol, music, sex, and reckless games foreshadows ruin. It recalls the Israelites dancing around the golden calf instead of worshiping the true Creator. 

The Apostle Paul warned, “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its mould.” Yet throughout history, rather than the church influencing the world, the world has often shaped the church’s values instead. 

So, what does this mean for us today? 

The Christian life demands more than half-measures. It’s all or nothing. What seems like harmless fun can lead to spiritual ruin tomorrow. 

True freedom lies not in fleeting pleasures, but in living fully for God, resisting the world’s tempting traps. 

That is the message of The Egg Dance: to live wisely, choosing the eternal over the temporary.

ArtistPieter Aertsen
TitleThe Egg Dance
Production1522
MaterialOil on Panel
Dimensions172 cm (Width), 84 cm (Height)
Exhibit LocationRijksmuseum
Accession NumberSK-A-3
Credit Line
Image CreditWikimedia Commons
Written by Dr. Neale Schofield
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