Cholerisch 1600 - 1615

Editor: Here we have "Cholerisch," an engraving by Hieronymus Lederer from around 1600 to 1615. It's intense. The figure in the center looks so burdened, surrounded by symbols of war and anger. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, "Cholerisch," or "Choleric." Immediately, I'm struck by the sheer theatricality! It's almost like a stage set, isn't it? You’ve got this muscular, brooding figure embodying the choleric temperament, one of the four humors believed to dictate personality. Notice how he's being crowned, almost mockingly, while chaos unfolds around him? I wonder, do you find any personal connection to the work beyond just its visual qualities? Editor: I think, maybe the feeling of being overwhelmed? The way everything sort of piles on top of the central figure is something I can relate to. So this 'choleric temperament', is it supposed to be a negative thing? Curator: It's complicated! In the early modern period, these temperaments were believed to influence both physical and mental health. While "choleric" certainly implied a tendency toward anger and violence—hence the weaponry—it could also represent ambition and energy. What seems most poignant here, I feel, is how even such intense feelings can be so easily exploited. Editor: So it’s about the cost of that ambition, maybe? Or the burden of being consumed by your own anger. I definitely see it now. The artist brilliantly used a symbolic stage to talk about human emotions. Curator: Precisely. And remember, art like this wasn't just "art" back then, it was interwoven with medical theories, social commentary, the whole shebang! What a layered creation, don’t you agree? Editor: I agree! Thank you for pointing out those nuances. I never would have gotten that on my own. I will come back to see this engraving from a fresh perspective.