Portret van Martin Luther after 1803

This print of Martin Luther was made by Frederik Christiaan Bierweiler, probably in Germany, during the early 19th century. It exemplifies a renewed interest in the reformer that arose during that period. Luther's image is derived from a painting made by Lucas Cranach the Elder in the 16th century. Yet this is no mere copy. Bierweiler was working at a time when the old Holy Roman Empire had been swept away by Napoleon, and new forms of German nationalism were beginning to emerge. This image offered a visual rallying point. The image of Luther with his hand on his heart and holding a book speaks to his personal faith and the importance of the scriptures as well as suggests that it is only through faith that one can truly connect with God. The presence of the swan above his head references the legend surrounding the execution of the Czech reformer Jan Hus. To fully understand this print we need to know more about the artist, the social context, and the institutions, such as printmaking workshops, that supported its production.