Help with i.d.ing a historical/religious/political? figure please

[Seahorse]

These two pictures took my fancy in a charity shop today. They are woodcuts, I think mass produced and from the style of the decoration, perhaps originally from eastern europe.

The first is obviously a religious piece - perhaps Mary but if not one of the female saints such as Teresa or Bernadette.

Who is the bloke though? He was presumably bought as the 'pair' but he's not in religious clothing and doesn't have a halo. His dress and face furniture suggest he is a figure from c. 100 years ago.

This sort of thing really bugs me (I should probably get out more!) but if anyone can help, I shall be eternally grateful!

[Hilary B]

Only guessing, but origin may have been a church, and maybe he was the founder of it?

[selfraising]

It still looks like Lenin to me!

[Florence Fennel]

It looks like Stalin to me!

[Seahorse]

I have to say that a big part of the reason I want to know who he is, is that I fear he may be someone ideologically unsound Don't want him on my wall if he was a ruthless tyrant!

[smallblueplanet]

I dunno but they'll make good firewood!

[Glutton4...]

If She's not the Scottish Widow, She's either Mary or Teresa, at a guess.

As for the fella, he needs a shave - gawd knows what's livin' in that Tash!


OK, I'm no help, I know!

[Patchninja]

Rasputin?

[tiachica]

Quite sure it's Lenin... not enough hair for Stalin.

[petal]

I am going to ask my dad, he knows everything, get back to you later!

[zazen999]

Lenin died at 54; and that blokey is much older.

Trotsky had glasses at that age so I'd have thought they would be included....

[taff]

It could be Nietzsche

[di]

It honestly looks like Andis Dad....tash included
Although he looks a bit on the stern side I wonder if he was her lover and got killed in some highly honourable way and that's why she's sad?

My first thoughts...after Andi's Dad.... was Kemal Ataturk but I don't think he ever had quite such a huge tash.

[TonyF]

OK folks, the guy isn't Lenin, Stalin or Trotsky, trust me on this one, I know their images very well, still have pics/postcards of them on the noticeboard over my desk and it's none of the 19th century politicos like Marx.

From the style, mid-European, mid Victorian or late Victorian.

I think the woman is Mary or Teresa, more likely Teresa.

[swansea girl]

Well its got me puzzled! I've trawled through the internet looking for historical/important men with a moustache and compared their photos/images and drawn a blank,checked through my sons history books and zilch...so I'm inclined to agree with Hilary B,I'll show my dad too just in case he can shed some light on it...got to say I quite enjoyed myself,felt a bit like a treasure hunt! lol