Dwaze maagd met uitgedoofde olielamp in landschap 1518

Niklaus Manuel Deutsch created this small woodcut of a maiden holding an oil lamp. Notice how the formal structure uses an interplay of light and shadow to emphasize the tension between the maiden's elaborate attire and her bare feet, grounding her in the physical world while her gaze lifts beyond. The composition is vertically oriented, drawing our eyes upwards along the maiden's figure, which is emphasized by the intricate pattern work of the dress. This verticality creates a sense of upward striving. The oil lamp is held aloft, as if offering a last glimmer of hope or reason. The background landscape, rendered with fine lines, provides a contrast to the foreground figure. The print invites us to consider how the material form of the artwork—its lines, textures, and stark contrasts—challenges conventional representations and moral categories. The 'foolish' maiden is an exploration of human contradictions and the instability of meaning.