Meet an oval-shaped mirror print of 1668 calling for repentance. A thread #bookhistory #mediahistory
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The Writing-Master (Schönschreibmeister) Adam Fabricius made this prayer of repentance: "speculum hominis". It is a copperplate print with lots of details.
On the left: the title / On the right: the year of print.
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On the left: the title / On the right: the year of print.
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The centered title "speculum hominis" is framed by explaining verses that follow the oval-shape and start on the left. The verses? "Wer Gotts Gesetz vollkomlichhelt, Dem hab dieß Werck nit fürgestelt, Wer aber seine Sünd bekent, der liebet es biß an sein End/ Denn ...
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The title ("speculum", Latin for mirror) and the shape of the print match. The intention to produce the paper print as a mirror had 2 reasons:
First, as a reference to the long known speculum-titles from at latest c14 onwards. Mirrors offer a moment of self reflexion.
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First, as a reference to the long known speculum-titles from at latest c14 onwards. Mirrors offer a moment of self reflexion.
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The second reason was related to the theme of the print: a call to repentance. And for this individual addressing you needed a mirror: look at yourself, christian. Do better, behave.
Also remember: God (the Tetragrammaton!) is watching, and you will all die (skull)
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Also remember: God (the Tetragrammaton!) is watching, and you will all die (skull)
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To navigate the print, the suggested reading stops are numbered. Here are number I and II.
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The reading stops are positioned in a clockwise direction, leading the audiences' attention to the centre of the print: to "Lamentatio Peccatoris" (8) and "Responsio Salvatoris" (9). Framed is this scene by God (on the left) and the devil (on the right).
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So the eye-catcher in the middle, the man made of biblical words aka the human sinner, is between God and the Devil. The texts surrounding (and protecting) the human figure are biblical words. How thoughtful!
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Right under the human figure hell begins, as the reader/listener is informed by apocalyptic verses from the bible. Human, you are walking on thin ground.
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Let's focus on the human figure and its biblical verses. The head of the human sinner reads: "Das gantze Haupt ist kranck", the entire head is sick.
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The right arm of the figure reads: "Vnnd wenn du schon deine Hände ausbreitest vnd viel betest, wirstu doch nit erhöret denn deine Hännde sind voll Blut". In short: It doesn't matter if you pray a lot, your hands are blood covered. You are a sinner.
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And if the sinner had forgotten why he is constantly sinning, the print reminds him in the upper right part where the expulsion from Paradise is mentioned. Well, at least Adam seems to be complaining to the Angel...
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Writing masters like Adam Fabricius used round hand character in printed work, partly to get more attention. As Fabricius was an engraver too, it was easy to get his style on a copper plate: "auß freyer Hannd geschrieben vnnd ins Kupfer verlegt".
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... and this was the short story of an oval-shaped mirror print of 1668 calling for repentance. The last chosen detail is unclear to me, the Writing-Master may have engraved a few rounds in pure fun, but the devilish detail next to it is great. #bookhistory #mediahistory
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