Cholerisch temperament c. 1520 - 1550

Around 1520-1550, Antonio da Trento captured 'Cholerisch Temperament' in chiaroscuro woodcut, a striking play of light and dark across a small, textured surface. The composition, dominated by an allegorical figure, showcases a dynamic tension between the chaotic background and the posed figure in the foreground. The choleric figure, caught mid-motion, holds a sword high, symbolizing aggression. This is juxtaposed against the background of swirling clouds. The figure’s pose and expression, coupled with the almost violent thrust of the sword, embodies choler, an imbalance within the old doctrine of the four humors. Da Trento uses the chiaroscuro technique not just to depict but to embody the idea of choler. Note how light and shadow define not just form but also emotion. This print is not just an image; it's a philosophical statement rendered in line and tone, inviting us to decode its visual rhetoric.