Picture puzzle: The shameless woman 1536 - 1539

This woodcut, "Picture puzzle: The shameless woman" was created by Erhard Schön in the 16th century. It's a fascinating example of early printmaking, a process that democratized image production. The image is made by carving a design into a block of wood, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The lines you see are actually the raised parts of the woodblock, the areas that weren't cut away. This subtractive process requires precision and skill. Each line is a deliberate mark, contributing to the overall composition, and texture of the image. Looking closely, you can see how the woodcut medium influenced the aesthetic. The bold lines and strong contrasts are characteristic of the technique. The image itself offers a critical view of society, using the visual puzzle to comment on morality and perception. Woodcuts like these were relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute, making them a powerful tool for social commentary and artistic expression in their time.