Death and the Maiden (Baldung)

Death and the Maiden or Death and Lust is a painting executed in 1517 by the German artist Hans Baldung (otherwise known as Hans Baldung Grien) which is in the collection of the Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Death and the Maiden (Death and Lust)
ArtistHans Baldung
Year1517
Mediumtempera on limewood
Dimensions30.3 cm × 14.7 cm (11.9 in × 5.8 in)
LocationKunstmuseum Basel, Basel

The work depicts a popular theme that Baldung himself visited several times, that of the early death of a young woman, often with erotic overtones. In this version Death has seized hold of a voluptuous young woman's hair and is pointing down to a tomb in mock benediction. Above his head are written the words "Hie must du yn" or "Here you must go". The distraught victim, fully aware of her fate, wrings her hands together, pleading for her life.[1][2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Paintings for our time: Death and the Maiden". The Eclectic Light Company. 5 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  2. ^ Luyt, Russell. Diversity in Gender and Visual Representation.