Kracht 1528

This is Kracht, an engraving made in 1528 by the German artist Heinrich Aldegrever. During the German Renaissance, artists like Aldegrever grappled with humanist ideals and the ongoing religious reformation. Aldegrever presents us with an allegorical figure of fortitude, or strength. We see a partially nude woman, adorned with jewelry and an elaborate hairstyle, leaning against a broken column. Strength is not portrayed through conventional masculine symbols, but rather through the figure’s defiant gaze and the intimate gesture of her hand grasping the broken column. This piece invites contemplation on the multifaceted nature of strength, and resilience during times of upheaval. How can traditional allegories be re-imagined? How might it feel to find strength in vulnerability? Aldegrever challenges the traditional, often masculine, representations of power. It suggests that true fortitude resides in the ability to endure, adapt, and even find beauty in the face of fragility.