This woodcut, titled Haemorrhous, depicts a mythological snake and was crafted by designer Geoffroy Ballain and woodcut artist Jean de Gourmont in 1565.

The image was included in Jacques Grévin's Deux livres des venins (1568) and later in De venenis libri duo (1571). These works explored the nature of poisons and venomous creatures, blending scientific inquiry with mythological elements common to Renaissance natural history.

The Haemorrhous snake, referenced in these texts, was steeped in mythology and attributed with properties tied to bloodletting or venom, as suggested by its name. The woodcut is an example of the era's fascination with exotic and symbolic creatures, both real and imagined.

This piece, a woodblock created using the houtsnede (woodcut) printing technique, was acquired by the Plantin-Moretus Museum in 1876, reflecting the museum's commitment to preserving works of historical and artistic significance.

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