Penning met het portret van Karel V en de namen van keizers van het Heilige Roomse Rijk 1712

This round print, whose maker is now unknown, presents a profile portrait of Charles V surrounded by the names of Holy Roman Emperors. Made at a time of great political change, this object presents a visualisation of imperial power. Charles V was Holy Roman Emperor from 1519, at a time when Europe was experiencing religious and political upheaval. The Reformation, led by Martin Luther, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and shook the foundations of European society. Charles sought to maintain the unity of his empire, but faced opposition from Protestant princes and external threats from the Ottoman Empire. This print is a statement of power at a time of instability. How do we know this? Well, historians would consider the context of its production and reception to fully understand it, looking at books, archives, and other historical sources. It is only through this historical analysis that the full meaning of an artwork emerges.