Artwork
The Bewitched Groom
The Bewitched Groom is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1544 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1544, *The Bewitched Groom* is a woodcut by the German artist Hans Baldung Grien. The print belongs to the late Renaissance period and showcases Baldung’s characteristic blend of mythic and corporeal motifs. Executed in a single monochrome tone, the image presents a compact interior scene that juxtaposes a human figure with supernatural elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a groom perched atop a goat, his posture stiff and eyes wide, while a witch‑like woman gestures with a staff toward him. The juxtaposition of the domestic servant and the magical figure underscores Baldung’s recurring fascination with transformation, enchantment, and the vulnerability of ordinary individuals when confronted by occult forces.
Technique & Style
Baldung employed the traditional woodcut process, carving the design into a block of wood and printing it in black ink on paper. The line work is bold and expressive, emphasizing the stark contrast between light and shadow. The figures are rendered with exaggerated gestures and elongated forms, reflecting the Mannerist tendency toward heightened drama within a Renaissance framework.
History & Provenance
Hans Baldung, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer, produced the print during his mature period, when he was active in Strasbourg and surrounding regions. The work circulated among collectors of prints in the mid‑16th century, and surviving copies are held in several European museum collections, attesting to its continued scholarly interest.
Context
*The Bewitched Groom* exemplifies the German Renaissance’s engagement with classical revival and folk superstition. While the period celebrated humanist ideals, artists like Baldung also explored the darker side of folklore, integrating magical narratives into visual culture. The print thus reflects a broader cultural tension between rationalism and belief in the supernatural during the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
