Melancholia 1539

"Melancholia" is an engraving by Sebald Beham, created in 1539. The artwork depicts a winged female figure, personifying melancholy, seated with her head in her hand, seemingly lost in thought. She is surrounded by tools of various trades, including a compass, hourglass, and a carpenter’s square, symbolizing the creative potential and intellectual power trapped by melancholia. The overall composition and detailed depiction of the figure and her surroundings create a sense of introspection and the complexities of human emotions.