Artwork
Woman with Mirror, Serpent, Stag and Hind
Woman with Mirror, Serpent, Stag and Hind is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Woman with Mirror, Serpent, Stag and Hind is an allegorical oil painting created by Hans Baldung Grien in 1529. It is a representative work of the artist's vivid and imaginative style, characteristic of the transition between the German Renaissance and Mannerism.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a nude female figure, adorned with a long red wig, holding a mirror and surrounded by symbolic animals, including a stag, deer, and snake, set against a dark forest background. The scene is rich in allegorical references, inviting interpretation of the figure and the creatures accompanying her.
Technique & Style
The artist employed chiaroscuro, using soft shadows to create a three-dimensional effect on the woman's body. The mirror held by the figure reflects her face, though the reflection is blurry, adding to the enigmatic nature of the scene. The use of oil paint allowed for detailed rendering of the subjects and their surroundings.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Alte Pinakothek collection. As a work by Hans Baldung Grien, a student of Albrecht Dürer, it reflects the artist's development of a unique style influenced by his association with the German Renaissance and Mannerism.
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…
