Martin Luther 1526

This small medal featuring Martin Luther was made anonymously at an unknown date, using techniques of metalworking. It seems to be made of lead. The medal likely was created using a mold, where molten metal was poured into a pre-carved design. It's a process that allows for relatively quick reproduction, and indeed, this was probably a devotional object intended for wide circulation. The front side shows a crisp, if somewhat simplified, profile portrait of Luther. The reverse is more crude, suggesting that the mold itself degraded over time. Considered together, the two faces of the medal prompt the question: when does repetition shade over into mass production? The meaning of this object lies not just in its representation of Luther, but in its knowing deployment of relatively accessible techniques. It speaks volumes about the democratization of both images and ideas in early modern Europe.