Vijfde en zesde span paarden met allegorieën 1523

Albrecht Durer created this print, "Fifth and Sixth Pair of Horses with Allegories," using engraving techniques. It is housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I, this work was part of a larger allegorical frieze intended to celebrate the emperor's reign and lineage. Look at how the image creates meaning through visual codes. The triumph is drawn with meticulous detail, a hallmark of the Northern Renaissance style. The inclusion of allegorical figures, like the women bearing wreaths, elevates the scene beyond mere portraiture. The work, made in the Germanic lands of the early 16th century, reflects the Holy Roman Empire's complex social tapestry. As art historians, we consult period texts, Imperial records, and Durer's own journals, which provide invaluable insights into the cultural context and artistic intentions behind this kind of work.