JOHANNES HÖFEL (Pest 1786-1864 Vienna) Tiresias Killing the Male Snake.
Pen and black ink and wash with white gouache heightening on grayish brown laid paper with a prepared yellowish brown wash ground, 1807. 665x520 mm; 261/8x201/2 inches. Signed, titled and dated in ink, lower margin.
According to Greek mythology, Tiresias was changed into a woman when he killed the female of 2 copulating snakes. Seven years later, at the same location, he killed the male snake of the 2 copulating snakes in order to regain his manliness.
