• Additional view of object
Jun 5, 2006

The Four Witches (Four Naked Women)

The Four Witches (Four Naked Women)

1497

Albrecht Dürer

(German, 1471–1528)

Germany, late 15th Century

Engraving

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1964.22

Catalogue raisonné: Meder 69

Location

not on view

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Description

Dating from early in Albrecht Dürer’s career, this engraving cannot be tied to a specific narrative but may allude to the Greek goddess of the underworld, Hecate. Four nude women gather under an orb with a skull at their feet, while a ghoul emerges to their left. Three of the women could represent Hecate, who was often depicted with three faces or bodies; the fourth may be Diana, Hecate’s counterpart on earth. The nudity and allusions to black magic suggest mischief and the realm of witches. Prints offered a new medium for exploring subject matter that was deemed inappropriate in other media, such as painting.

See also
Collection: 
PR - Engraving
Department: 
Prints
Type of artwork: 
Print
Medium: 
Engraving
Credit line: 
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

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