Anonymous: The Tree man (1550 - 1575)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

An engraving made by an unknown Dutch artist. This print is a reproduction of an earlier piece made by the Dutch artist Jheronimus Bosch (1450-1516). Depicted here is a fantasy figure known as 'the tree man' which also appears in Bosch' painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights". The figure consists of a combination of a human and tree, with drinkers filling his torso and a jug sitting on his head. His legs are supported by two boats while a flag with a crescent moon is shown outside his torso. What the figure represents is not clear, most likely it is a symbol of sin. Drawing from 1550-1575.