Flora 1512 - 1540

Barthel Beham created this tiny engraving called Flora sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Beham was one of the German Little Masters, a group of artists known for their small, intricate prints. At this time in Europe, there was renewed interest in classical antiquity, and Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, was a popular subject. Beham presents Flora nude, adorned with a crown of leaves, subtly drawing attention to the female form. The sensuality of the piece must be understood in the context of the Reformation. Artists were negotiating how to represent the body in ways that align with both classical ideals and shifting religious sensitivities. Does Beham’s Flora serve as a celebration of natural beauty or something more complicated? Is Flora an idealized form, a projection of male desire, or something else entirely? What feelings does this piece evoke in you?