FOUR WITCHES

One of the most mysterious works of Dürer, interpreted in different ways by the researchers. The composition is based on the ancient Three Graces but the artist added a fourth character. The left door, with tongues of flame and the devil's head, symbolizes the gates of hell; the right door, with a bone in front of it, personifies the gates of death. Four women are depicted; the one in the background is probably Eris, the goddess of discord, three figures in the foreground may be Venus, Minerva and Juno. The latter, being a patroness of married women, is depicted in a cap.

Some researchers consider that the print is connected with the story of Judgement of Paris and see it as a warning against luxury that leads you to the hell.