Dürer mentions this print in his journal as the ‘Meerwunder’ (Sea Monster). This is one of the few cases where we have first-hand evidence of the title Dürer applied to one of his own artworks. However, the subject of this engraving remains much debated. Showing the rape of a young woman by a semi-human creature, it most likely relates to an as yet unidentified antique story. The composition shares certain similarities with former depictions of rape on ancient sarcophagi and mosaics. Dürer would have known of these from Italian prints based on these prototypes.