Inscription [reverse] 1544

This bronze medal was created by Friedrich Hagenauer in 1538. The inscription translates to “I have done it in God’s name." Its creation coincides with a period of great religious and social upheaval in Europe, namely, the Protestant Reformation. The medal suggests a deep connection between personal action and divine will. Hagenauer, working in Augsburg, a city at the crossroads of religious and political change, produced medals that often reflected contemporary debates and shifting allegiances. The choice of German, rather than Latin, for the inscription is telling. The conscious choice may reflect a growing sense of national identity, or a way to reach a broader public during a period of intense religious debate. Looking closer, we can ask: what exactly was "done in God's name?" Was it a personal act of faith, a contribution to the Reformation, or something else? The medal invites us to explore the complex relationship between faith, action, and identity in 16th century Germany. To understand it better, one might investigate the history of Augsburg during the Reformation. The work is a reminder that art is always embedded in a specific social, cultural, and institutional context.