A struggle conversation between death and natural life, by Wandereisen (printed by) (1538)

A struggle conversation between death and natural life, by Wandereisen (printed by) (1538)

Original title: Ein Kampfgesprech zwischen dem Todt und dem Natürlichen Leben ("A struggle conversation between death and natural life").

"Death; holding a scythe, standing to right; an hourglass on a tree stump at right; the body of two men on the ground; woodcut illustration only from the title-page to 'Ein Kampfgesprech zwischen dem Todt und dem Natürlichen Leben', Nuremberg: Hans Wandereisen, 1538." (Description from The British Museum webpage,
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415)

Gender perspective: Death as the Grim Reaper is normally understood in English as a male figure and often presented with indirect masculine symbols. In this case, the long hair and neck make the figure look feminine or at least ambiguous. The area of the genitalia is visible and the lack of any mark points towards a feminine figure.

Wandereisen, Hans (printed by) (1512-1550)

The British Museum, London, UK:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0610-415

© The Trustees of The British Museum
Asset number: 75644001
Museum number: 1865,0610.415

Also found in the Digital German Library:
https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200710204721/https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/L4GXYP2IMVKT4H5AVHTGIDR7VWXN53SJ

URN: urn:nbn:de:gbv:3:1-137675

1538

Woodcut on paper.
Dimensions: 8.4 × 8 cm