The Men's Bath House
Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528)
c. 1496–97
Medium
woodcut
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Fiftieth anniversary gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
Accession Number
1969.271
Tags
male
About this artwork
Albrecht Dürer’s depiction of men relaxing in a public bath house was unusual in the early 1500s because it showed nudity without an accompanying mythological or biblical narrative. The print showcases Dürer’s ability to depict the male figure in various inventive poses and may feature portraits of some of his friends. Meant to be studied closely, the image includes visual puns such as the faucet placed near the man’s groin at left. The popularity of the print during Dürer’s lifetime may relate ...