Three Men in Conversation, 1497-1498

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Engravingexpand_more

The William Hood Dunwoody Fund, 1947expand_more  P.12,253

Not on Viewexpand_more

Whether or not this engraving refers to contemporary peasant uprisings, as some suggest, Albrecht Dürer treats us to a little absurdity. The man on the left has a sword, prerogative of the nobility but cannot even maintain its sheath. The center man is dressed as an ordinary German peasant but has the beard an turban of a Turk. The assertive man on the right carries a basket of eggs, but his spurs suggest that he may be a knight. This may be a microcosm of the “the world turned upside down,” a notion stemming from the same strain of thought that bought fear of witches and an impending apocalypse as the year 1500 loomed closer.

Details
Title
Three Men in Conversation
Artist Life
1471–1528
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.12,253
Catalogue Raisonne
M. 87; B.86, 97; D.20
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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