Medal 1541

Friedrich Hagenauer, active in the 16th century, made this struck medal, likely in Austria or Germany. Its modest scale belies the complex process used to produce it. Think about the labor involved: the artist would have begun with a carefully engraved die, a kind of three-dimensional stamp made of hardened steel. Striking the medal would have required considerable force, repeatedly hammering the die onto a metal blank to transfer the design. The resulting image, a portrait in profile, has a crispness of detail remarkable for its size. Note the sitter's distinctive features and elaborate costume. Consider too, the social context: medals like this one were not merely decorative. They were often commissioned as gifts or tokens of honor, designed to commemorate individuals or events. Hagenauer’s skill in metalworking elevates the form, blurring the line between craft and fine art, inviting us to appreciate the artistry inherent in even the most functional of objects.