The Weather Peasant "Das Schadet Nit" c. 1542

Sebald Beham created this engraving, "The Weather Peasant 'Das Schadet Nit'," in the first half of the 16th century. Beham was one of the German Little Masters, known for their small-scale, intricate prints. Here, a peasant stands with his back to us, a scroll unfurling above him with the inscription "Das schadet nit"–"it does no harm." The image appears to offer a commentary on peasant life during a time of significant social and economic change. The Reformation, the rise of capitalism, and the increasing divide between the wealthy and the working class all contributed to an increasingly volatile society. The peasant's seeming indifference to the elements, as suggested by the title, might speak to the resilience or perhaps the resignation of this class of people. The image suggests a complex interplay between identity, labor, and social status. It invites us to consider the emotional landscape of the working class during the Reformation. Beham’s work gives us an intimate look at a pivotal time.