Libertas Germaniae 1519

"Libertas Germaniae" (Liberty of Germany), a woodcut by Hieronymus Gebweiler from 1519, depicts a young man holding a shield with the Habsburg coat of arms. The image may refer to Charles V, who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. The woodcut's stark lines and detailed ornamentation are characteristic of the Northern Renaissance style. The inscription "CAROLO RO. REGI" (To Charles, King of the Romans) and "VICTORIA" (Victory) highlight the political and religious context of the artwork. This small woodcut, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the visual culture of early sixteenth-century Europe.