Hoop (Spes) 1539

"Hoop (Spes)" is a 1539 engraving by German artist Sebald Beham. The image depicts a winged female figure, representing the virtue of "Spes" (Hope) in a classical context. She is adorned with a laurel wreath, and a long cloth hangs from her hand towards a man in the background who appears trapped in a chain. This print is a small work, measuring only 39 mm in height and 26 mm in width, indicative of the growing popularity of small-scale prints in the 16th century. This artwork is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum.