Vexierbilder by Erhard Schön

Introduction

Erhard Schön was a 16th-century German woodcut designer and painter known for his anamorphic art. Born in Nuremberg, Schön was influenced by the printmaking of Albrecht Dürer and may have contributed a few woodcuts to Dürer’s works. Schön’s anamorphic art, also known as Vexierbilder or puzzle pictures, were created in the 1530s^. These works used mathematical and metaphorical perspectives to visualize shifts in socially constructed points of view.

Reflection Questions

1. How does Schön’s use of anamorphosis in his picture puzzle challenge your initial perception of the artwork?
2. What elements in the picture puzzle stand out to you when viewed from different perspectives and why?
3. How does the concept of Vexierbilder, or puzzle pictures, reflect the societal and cultural context of the 16th century?
4. In what ways does Schön’s picture puzzle engage the notions of truth, error, and perception?