Vintage Cartoon Academic Fencing Mensur Poster

Studentica (studentika) One of two (view the other one in our shop). Great 1905 cartoon, cleaned and colours restored, on Mensur. (this one is after the fight, view the scars). Academic fencing (German akademisches Fechten) or Mensur is the traditional kind of fencing practiced by some student corporations (Studentenverbindungen) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and to a minor extent in Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Flanders. It is a traditional, strictly regulated sword fight between two male members of different fraternities with sharp weapons. Until the first half of the 19th century, all types of academic fencing can be seen as duels, since all fencing with sharp weapons was about honour. No combat with sharp blades took place without a formal insult. Compared to pistol duels, these events were quite harmless. The fight was regularly ended when an injury occurred which caused a wound with a length of at least one inch and with at least one drop of blood coming out from it.