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The Dream of the Doctor, c. 1500. Creator: Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528)
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The Dream of the Doctor, c. 1500. Creator: Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528)
The Dream of the Doctor, c. 1500. Scholars generally agree that this curious engraving represents the contemporary proverb " Idling is the pillow of the devil, " a moral message against the sin of sloth. Here, a middle-aged scholar dozes before a warm stove. The devil hovers behind him and uses a fireplace bellows to kindle impure desires. Aroused by the devils sinful provocation, the scholars subconscious conjures Venus, an object of lustful temptation. Durers image explores the realm of dreams and innermost thought in association with powerful female sexuality. Like many of his other engravings of this early period, Durer uses obscure, moralistic stories to consider the female nude both creatively and intellectually. Although aimed at a primarily cultured male audience, Durer presents Venus as a source of desire not only for the sinful idler, but for the viewer as well
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Media ID 19627965
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1471 1528 Albrecht Durer Albrecht Dürer German Late 15th Early 16th Century
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The Dream of the Doctor, c. 1500
EDITORS COMMENTS
by Albrecht Dürer is a captivating engraving that delves into the realm of dreams and innermost thoughts. Scholars believe that this intriguing artwork symbolizes the proverb "Idling is the pillow of the devil" serving as a moral message against sloth. In this print, we see a middle-aged scholar peacefully dozing off in front of a warm stove. However, lurking behind him is the devil himself, using fireplace bellows to ignite impure desires within his subconscious. As a result, Venus, an embodiment of lustful temptation, materializes before him. Dürer's image explores powerful female sexuality and its association with dreams and fantasies. Through obscure yet moralistic stories like this one, he creatively and intellectually considers the female nude. While primarily intended for cultured male viewership during that era, Dürer presents Venus not only as an object of desire for sinful idlers but also for those who behold his artwork. This late 15th to early 16th-century masterpiece showcases Dürer's exceptional skill in capturing intricate details through engraving techniques. It resides at The Cleveland Museum of Art as part of their esteemed collection. "The Dream of the Doctor" invites us to reflect on our own innermost desires while cautioning against succumbing to idle temptations—a timeless message conveyed through Dürer's artistic brilliance.
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