Medieval society was marked by various hardships. The suppression by the church, barbarian invasions, the crusades, brutal torture, and the devastating Black Plague were part of everyday life.

To provide a glimpse into the challenging conditions of that era, let’s explore the art of the time to witness these struggles firsthand. The following depictions are actual medieval artworks created between 700 and 1500 AD.

If you ever doubted the existence of sarcasm in the Middle Ages, this artwork should dispel your skepticism. These individuals appear utterly fed up. The people behind them aren’t exactly helping to brighten the mood.

Mary might have enjoyed her celebrity status for a while, but now she’s just tired of it all. This depiction captures her weariness after countless events showcasing the miraculous baby.

Boredom was a luxury in medieval times. These statues don’t bother hiding their ennui; they exude a “constantly checking their watch” air of discontent.

Even the sun had it rough in medieval times, contending with all sorts of geometrical shapes.

This portrayal illustrates six individuals with incredibly low self-esteem. It’s hard to fathom a more despondent group.

For this man, every day seems like the worst day of his life. At the very least, they could have provided enough room for him to stand up straight while toiling away with manual labor.

Living with a monkey, a young boy, two mating chickens, and a bespectacled cat seems to have broken this man’s spirit.

People Enduring Truly Terrible Situations

This woman finds herself in an extremely distressing predicament, being harassed by 11 eerie figures and having a knife-winged seagull flying towards her head.

This man’s only reaction to being ambushed by a group of toddlers and stripped naked in a dark alley is a simple “Oh, for goodness’ sake.”

The lack of dignity in the Middle Ages reached new heights. Despite his current plight, this man appears oddly unfazed, potentially indicating a familiarity with such unpleasant incidents.

Yes, that’s right. A woman being assaulted by a bunny. It’s hard to imagine a modern rabbit displaying such a sinister expression, let alone engaging in such behavior.

Individuals Deeply Mired in Misery

This individual finds himself in an exceedingly dire situation—having his feet sawed off was a horrifying reality in medieval times, contrasting sharply with modern life.

An elderly person today may just be aged, but a medieval elder not only appears weathered but also has a butcher knife penetrating their skull, yet continues their daily routine unperturbed.

In the medieval era, being burned at the stake was considered a typical occurrence. These individuals seem accustomed to such trials, evident from their indifferent expressions.

Remarkably, this man seems to enjoy being torn apart by infernal monsters, evidently one of his better days.

Today, bad weather typically involves rain or maybe a hurricane. However, in the Middle Ages, individuals faced fire showers, aerial assaults by malevolent stars, and even encounters with a giant severed animal leg and a disinterested two-headed horse.

It’s hard to fathom what one could do to deserve having their intestines pulled out. Additionally, observe the man being buried alive and the synchronized infant mutilation in the background. It’s evident that life was exceptionally harsh when even having your stomach cut open placed you only in the fifth worst predicament in the vicinity.

With a series of such grim scenarios, it might be challenging to select the ultimate worst, but a man being devoured by the devil while being expelled through his own womb takes the crown. Just another day in the medieval times.