The Dream, c. 1500, Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471–1528, 7 3/8 x 4 5/8 in. (18.73 x 11.75 cm) (image), Engraving, Germany, 15th-16th century, As a man snoozes in downy comfort beside a warm ceramic oven, a demon blows wicked thoughts into his ear with a bellows. A proverb says, 'Idleness is the devil’s pillow.' Temptation has arrived in the form of a classical Venus, whose gesture invites the sleeper’s attention. Two symbols of unsteadiness suggest the man is vulnerable: a putto attempting to hike himself onto a pair of stilts and the sphere of Fate that can go in any direction. An apple sits on the stove to remind us that the devil offers a warmed-over version of the original temptation in the Garden of Eden.
Keywords:
Dream, 1500, Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471–1528, image, Engraving, Germany, 15th-16th century, man snoozes, downy comfort beside, warm ceramic oven, demon blows wicked thoughts, ear, bellows, proverb says, Idleness, devil's pillow, Temptation, arrived, form, classical Venus, gesture invites, sleeper's attention, Two symbols, unsteadiness suggest, man, vulnerable, putto attempting, hike, pair, stilts, sphere, Fate, go, any direction, apple sits, stove, remind us, devil offers, warmed- version, original temptation, Garden, Eden
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