Female Genius Holding a Coat of Arms 1535

This 1535 engraving by German Renaissance artist Sebald Beham features a winged, cherubic figure holding a shield and helmet, with one foot balanced on a sphere. The figure represents “Genius,” a concept of creative and intellectual power, often embodied in classical art by a winged youth. Beham's intricate etching style captures the details of the armor, foliage, and the cherub's anatomy, highlighting his mastery of the printmaking medium. The composition, symbolic of artistic inspiration and the strength of ideas, exemplifies the themes explored in the Northern Renaissance.