Luther på Rigsdagen i Worms, 1521 1804 - 1872

Edvard Sonne created this print of Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1843 in Denmark. The image portrays Martin Luther's defiant stand before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, a moment heavy with religious and political implications. Prints like these helped construct Luther as a national hero, a symbol of religious and intellectual freedom against the old guard of the Catholic Church. Consider the way Sonne uses light and shadow to emphasize Luther's resolute figure against the opulent setting of the assembly. The architecture implies the authority of the Church, the Holy Roman Empire, and its institutions, however Luther's presence there challenges their authority. This print served as a visual statement during a time of rising nationalism and religious debate in Denmark. To fully appreciate this print, historians delve into Reformation-era documents, theological debates, and the visual culture of 19th-century Europe. Art becomes a window into understanding the social and institutional forces shaping history.