Cholerisch temperament 1549 - 1591

"Cholerisch temperament" is a small, detailed engraving from the 16th century, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The anonymous artist depicts a warrior, armed with sword and shield, standing over a bear. The dramatic composition, the dynamic poses and the engraved lines evoke the choleric temperament, one of the four humors described in ancient Greek medicine. The artist captures the warrior's hot-headed and impulsive nature through the expressive lines and the violent scene, a testament to the enduring fascination with the four humors.