Hungarian Campaign, plate 14 from Historical Scenes from the Life of Emperor Maximilian I from the Triumphal Arch c. 1515 - 1520

Hans Springinklee created this woodcut, "Hungarian Campaign," as part of a series of prints for the Triumphal Arch of Emperor Maximilian I. Conceived within the ambitious context of Imperial propaganda, these works were designed to shape the legacy and public image of Maximilian. This print encapsulates early 16th-century European attitudes towards the Ottoman Empire. As you observe the clash of armies, consider how such depictions reinforced cultural divides, constructing a narrative of "us" versus "them." The detailed rendering of military might is not merely a record; it is a statement of power and dominance. It implicitly legitimizes the Emperor’s expansionist ambitions. What does it mean to memorialize military conquest in art? The print invites us to consider the relationship between history, power, and representation. What stories get told, and whose perspectives are included or excluded? Consider the emotional weight carried by such images, particularly for those whose histories have been marginalized or erased.