The Bewitched Groom

The Bewitched Groom is Baldung's last engraving, done in his final years.

The engraving represents a groom stretched out near the horse he has come to take care of. At his side are the tools used in caring for the horse, a curry comb and a pitchfork. In the upper right corner, we can see the probable cause of his fall: a witch holding a torch and standing near the horse. On the wall near the window, our attention is drawn to the Baldung family's heraldic crest, a coat of arms showing a mythical creature, a rearing unicorn. Thus the artist personalizes the composition, physically involving his family and his name in it. He had already used this personal heraldic motif in a woodcut from around 1520, as well as several bookplates featuring the figure of the unicorn.

This engraving is a remarkable summing up of Baldung's graphic work, adding to it his fascination with witchcraft and horses, which frequently appear in his work as separate motifs.