De verzoeking van de Heilige Antonius c. 1470 - 1491

Martin Schongauer created this engraving, "The Temptation of Saint Anthony," in the late 15th century. The composition, rendered entirely in meticulously detailed lines, explodes with movement and fantastical creatures swirling around the steadfast figure of Saint Anthony. Schongauer masterfully uses line to create texture and volume, the density of hatching conveying depth. The monstrous figures embody a grotesque imagination, each a hybrid of animalistic and demonic features. Their frenzied gestures and expressions form a chaotic contrast to Anthony's calm, vertical presence. The print reflects a moment of intense spiritual crisis, a symbolic representation of inner turmoil made manifest through external, monstrous forms. The artist's skillful use of line and composition serves not only to depict the scene but to engage with broader philosophical questions about faith, resistance, and the nature of good and evil. Ultimately, Schongauer's "Temptation" challenges the viewer to consider the boundaries between the sacred and the profane.