In small prints showing peasants, Beham demonstrates his great skill in depicting humans and everyday life.
Looking closely, we notice the rich details that give the images an extra dimension of liveliness. The peasants are dancing, drinking, making out and vomiting. The costumes are many and varied. Sometimes, we take part of fights and ludicrous attempts at seduction.
The popular touch shown by Beham was typical of the artists from the German-speaking part of Europe. Not seldom, motifs were fetched from proverbs or well-known jokes. Here, filth and humour was allowed, in contrast to the situation in Italian art, which often contains more idealised motifs. For those who are interested in how people lived in the 16th century, Beham’s prints are a goldmine.
