Imperial Double Eagle with the Coat of Arms of Ingolstadt, Freiburg, and Tübingen, from Joan. Eckii Theologi in summulas Petri Hispani extemporaria et succincta atque succosa explanatio p[ro] sup[er] ioris Germaniae scholasticis 1516

This woodcut of an Imperial Double Eagle with Coats of Arms was created by Hans Burgkmair. The dense composition fills the frame, dominated by the symmetrical form of the eagle, its feathery texture meticulously rendered through fine lines. The stark contrast of black ink on paper enhances the symbolic weight of the image. Encircling the eagle are inscribed names of cities, each associated with a coat of arms. This arrangement creates a visual hierarchy which intertwines political authority with geographical space. Burgkmair uses the visual language of heraldry to assert power and allegiance, embedding layers of meaning within a structured design. The print's complex iconography thus functions as a coded message, reflecting the intricate power structures of the Holy Roman Empire. Through the precise execution and symbolic arrangement, Burgkmair transforms a political emblem into a sophisticated visual statement.