Daniel Hopfer: Bolinka and Marcolfus (late 15th–early 16th century)

(Metropolitan museum of Art, New York, USA)

An engraving by the German artist Daniel Hopfer (1470-1536). This print was inspired by the book "The Dialogue of Solomon and Marcolf" from 1410. In the book the Old Testament king Solomon of Israel, a symbol of wisdom, is pitted against the ragged and foul-mouthed but quick-witted and verbally adept peasant Marcolf (or Marcolfus). Bolinka is the wife of Marcolfus. The book is some sort of battle of wits in which Marcolfs shows up at King Solomon's court and, in a manner of speaking, holds his own. The book was very popular in medieval Germany. Engraving from late 15th–early 16th century.