Urged by Fürwittig, Theuerdanck Tries to Manipulate a Polishing Stone, from Theuerdanck 1517

This print, made by Hans Schäufelein around 1517, is a woodcut. Woodcut is a relief printing process where the image is carved into a block of wood, leaving the design standing in relief. Here, we see a scene from the Habsburg-commissioned romance, *Theuerdanck*. What's interesting is the contrast between the aristocratic subject matter and the relatively accessible medium of woodcut. It was a way of disseminating the Habsburgs' carefully constructed image to a wider audience. The bold lines and graphic quality are a direct result of the carving process. The artist had to be mindful of the wood's grain and its tendency to split. This influenced the aesthetic, leading to simplified forms and strong contrasts of light and shadow. Think about the labor involved: from forestry, to the handwork of carving the block, to the printing process itself. This print embodies a fascinating intersection of artistic skill, material constraints, and the political agenda of the time. It shows how even a seemingly simple medium like woodcut can carry complex social and cultural meanings.