Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf Possibly 1622

"Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf" (Example and Teaching of the Present World's Course) is a 17th-century print by the German artist Andreas Bretschneider. The artwork depicts a gruesome scene of a man's head being hammered onto an anvil, surrounded by a multitude of other severed heads in baskets. Bretschneider's print serves as a moral allegory, reflecting the turbulent times of the early modern period, highlighting themes of violence, punishment, and the fragility of life. This stark depiction of mortality and injustice resonated with audiences of the time, making it a significant example of early modern printmaking.