Standbeeld van keizer Karel IV 1825 - 1852

Alexander Richard Wilhelm Marx created this print of a statue of Emperor Charles IV, sometime before his death in 1851. It’s a lithograph, a relatively new printmaking technique at the time, which allowed for a high level of detail. The image presents Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor in the 14th century. He stands on a small pedestal, wearing his royal garments and crown. The very statue Marx depicted would have been a statement in itself, referencing a ruler from centuries past. Consider the cultural and political climate of the 19th century in Germany, a time of rising nationalism and a search for historical figures to embody a unified German identity. Marx's choice to depict this particular statue speaks to the power of institutions, like the monarchy, and the ways in which they use images to shape our understanding of history and identity. By examining sources from the time, we can better understand the motivations and meanings behind its creation.