Vergognosi 1598

Christoph Krieger created this woodcut illustration, titled "Vergognosi," as a book illustration. The image depicts a figure cloaked entirely in white, their face obscured by a veil, holding a small stemmed glass. The title, "Vergognosi," translates to "shameful ones," hinting at the figure’s hidden identity and perhaps, their actions. The elaborate border of floral motifs and grotesque masks adds another layer of meaning to the image, contrasting the figure within. Made in Europe, this print illustrates a very particular kind of visual language that would have circulated at the time. Visual archives, historical documents, and studies of print culture could all assist us in placing this picture within its social and institutional context. The art historian looks to such resources to better understand the meanings and significance that a work such as this one would have held at the time.