Minneapolis Institute of Art

Man often fights, plate #6 from The Misery of Human Life

Philips Galle; after Maarten van Heemskerck

Date

1563

Medium

Etching

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In the foreground, two warriors face off with swords and shields. One just wears cloth, while the other has body armor and a helmet. More men can be seen fighting in the distance, while pairs of animals (lions and dogs), lie in peace. The point is simple: Unlike animals, men are always fight and thus bring misery upon themselves. This is the final print in a series of six that studies the misery of human life. The images were designed by Maarten van Heemskerck and engraved by Philips Galle. Each is accompanied by Latin verses by the learned Dutch polymath Hadrianus Junius (1511-1575), with further verses in French and Dutch below. Flanders, Europe

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.