Axl Leskoschek is not particularly associated with matters erotic, but after his death this set of woodcuts was found in his studio. It was apparent from the envelope containing the prints that the title of the portfolio was Zehn Scherze (Ten Witticisms), but there were only nine of them, of which two had been printed from slightly damaged blocks. Hence the Zehn Scherze are actually nine.

After their discovery in 1979, the Vienna fine print publisher Edition Graphischer Zirkel created a limited edition of thirty numbered copies from the original blocks.

The Scherze woodcuts show Leskoschek to be a consummate master of the technique, with a fine sense of graphic humour to match the subjects depicted. The nine prints are titled:
     Kassiopäa (Cassiopia)
     Die Turbine (The Turbine)
     Musik (Music)
     Eruptive Landschaft (Erupting Landscape)
     Les extrêmes se touchent (Meeting of the Extremes)
     Ekstase (Ecstasy)
     Es ist zwar immer dasselbe (It’s Always the Same)
     Der Forscher (The Researcher)
     L’idôle éternelle (The Eternal Idol)

We are very grateful to Hans-Jürgen Döpp for these images; Hans-Jürgen, the compiler of many books on erotic art, curates the Venusberg online gallery and bookshop which you can find here.