Urs Graf and Female Domination

There is no way we could connect Urs Graf with masochism. He was the enfant terrible of early northern renaissance, little known but very important German Switzerland artist (1485 - after 1527). He was multi talented goldsmith, die-cutter, woodblock book illustrator, stain glass painter, engraver, he produced the world's first etching print in 1513 and pioneered the white-line woodblock technique. He was also one the first artist to signing and dating his drawings. He led a tumultuous life, periodically escaping for military adventures, frequently dealing with legal issues from fighting, beating his wife and consorting with prostitutes, attempted murder...

No wonder his nonreligious work is full of violence, satire, erotic and macabre images. A couple of his pictures also display powerful and independent Women. Phillis & Aristotle, an unequal couple (though he added third figure of a young male - you can decide if the Woman is taking money from both, or She is just passing the old fool's money to the young lover - but it is probably not so important, all other attributes on the picture points to transience and futility of our life). Besides these popular motives he also made one very unique etching of pure Women violence - Two Women attacking a monk from 1521. It has no reference to biblical or then usual moral stories, it simply shows a mendicant friar being pummeled by two Women.

The kneeling man is helpless. His right hand clutches the edge of a small volume, his left props him up slightly from the ground. The Women are standing over him. One tears at his tonsure and digs Her nails deep into his right shoulder. The other Woman stands to his left, steadying his head with Her left hand and knee, and delivers blows with a massive key ring to his face. The monk's mouth is agape and twisted in pain. The Women's faces emit restraint, almost coolness - Their detachment suggests a routine affair. We do not see any anger - maybe a little pleasure (by the way, have you noticed the happy faces of both Phyllis and Aristotle on the first picture)? Some are suggesting the two Women are beating Their willing slave who paid to be treated that way. It could very well be the first truly Femdom picture we know.