Allegorie op het slechte bewind van Maximiliaan, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1488

This small, round, silver medal depicts a critical commentary on the rule of Maximilian I, Archduke of Austria. Created in 1488 by an anonymous artist, the medal is a powerful example of Renaissance-era political satire. One side features a skeletal figure wielding a scythe, a traditional representation of Death, seemingly defeating the Archduke. The other side features a symbolic scene with figures surrounding Maximilian and a snake symbolizing betrayal. This artwork is a testament to the power of art as a tool for social commentary and political critique.