A sick old woman, sitting supported by pillows as a skeleton pounces aiming his spear at her eyes. Woodcut by Tobias Stimmer, 1580.

  • Stimmer, Tobias, 1539-1584.
Date:
[1580]
Reference:
37458i
Part of:
Der Ander Theil dess neuwen Kunstbuchs in welchem Reissen unnd Malen zu lehrnen allen Kunstliebhabenden zu Nutz an Tag geben, durch die kunstreichen und weit berühmten Jost Ammon und Tobias Stimmer
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About this work

Description

Arrows and spears were not only weapons, but when brandished by personifications of death, could signify disease especially the plague. It was more than a popular saying that death was like an arrow- silent, swift and always deadly, since this conveyed powerlessness. This depiction is particularly ironic, since the old woman is blind, as is indicated by the mole underneath her chair. She is ignorant of her fate and literally cannot see the approach of death

Publication/Creation

[Frankfurt am Main] : [S. Feyerabendt], [1580]

Physical description

1 print : woodcut ; sheet 13.4 x 11.6 cm

Reference

Wellcome Collection 37458i

Notes

Woodcut in series: Der Ander Theil dess neuwen Kunstbuchs in welchem Reissen und Malen zu lehrnen allen Kunstliebhabenden zu Nutz an Tag geben, durch die kunstreichen und weit berühmten Jost Ammon und Tobias Stimmer, Frankfurt am Main: S Feyerabendt, 1580

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