Beul 1573

Jost Amman's woodcut print, "Beul," from 1573, depicts two figures, likely a executioner and his assistant, in an elaborate ornate oval frame. The scene is set in a landscape with a distant town and features figures of angels and grotesques filling the spaces surrounding the oval. Amman, known for his detailed illustrations of everyday life and professions, likely intended this print for a wider audience, highlighting the role of the executioner in 16th-century society. The artwork is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection and serves as a fascinating glimpse into the history of punishment.