The Battle Near Teramundt (Teremonde), from Der Weisskunig 1775 - 1800

Hans Burgkmair created this woodcut, "The Battle Near Teramundt," around 1514-1516, using a relief printing process on paper. The image is teeming with soldiers, cannons, and architectural details, all meticulously carved into a block of wood. The artist would have used a range of specialized tools to achieve such fine lines and intricate textures. The woodcut medium itself, with its inherent graphic quality, adds to the drama of the battle scene. This print is from "Der Weisskunig," a book commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I, as a visual record of his life and accomplishments. The labor-intensive nature of woodcut printing meant that images like these were relatively accessible and widely distributed. In that sense, this print serves as an example of the early intersection between art, politics, and the rise of mass media.