Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van Luther op de rijksdag in Worms in 1521 door Émile Delpérée before 1880

This is a photograph of a painting, made in Belgium in the late 19th century. It depicts Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521, a pivotal moment in the history of the Protestant Reformation. The image captures the moment when Luther, a figure of immense historical significance, was asked to recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor and other dignitaries. He refused, famously declaring that his conscience was captive to the Word of God, a bold statement against religious and political authority. The photograph, produced long after the event, reflects a 19th-century fascination with the Reformation as a foundational narrative for Protestant Europe. The Diet of Worms symbolized the struggle for individual conscience against established power. It’s worth exploring how this event has been interpreted and re-interpreted over time, using primary sources from the Reformation era, as well as secondary scholarship on the history of religious and political thought. The meaning of this image is not fixed, but shifts with its cultural and institutional context.