He's Out for the Count- "The Bewitched Groom"

As we have studied, the Reformation occurred contemporaneously with some major pockets of witch-hunting in German regions and elsewhere. The atmosphere of religious fervor, growing bureaucracy, and the religious upheavals/resulting societal expectations contributed to the appearance of witch-hunts. However, there were many factors involved and I chose this particular woodcut to examine the witch-hunts in relation to the influence of the Reformation. Entitled “The Bewitched Groom,” this woodcut was produced by Hans Baldung Grien in 1544.

Although not necessarily focused on witches, the woodcut is telling in a number of ways. For one, the witch-like figure leaning in by the windowsill appears old and is waving a sort of broom or possibly plant stalk in a violent manner. Secondly, the male figure is drawn at such an angle as to emphasize male sexuality, even as he has been rendered unconscious or at the least, knocked down. Importantly, his tools lay loosely by him, un-useful in his bewitched state. Moreover, the horse stands with his rear towards the main figure, which suggests the inverted or unnaturalness of the scene overall. Reformation ideals called for the man to be the powerful and moral leader of the house, while women were expected to be obedient wives and mothers. This woodcut displays the fear of non-conformity to such order. As described, the woman’s age, appearance, and action make her unsuitable for female domesticity. The male is bewitched and again, not able to carry out his duties. Overall, this demonstrates how the Reformation, rather than a free flow of religious debate, became a rigid sort of structuring mechanism for society, in which notions of gender influenced the occurrence of witch-hunts.  

For a clearer image/info- http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336238