Fortitudo 

Master I.B.'s "Fortitudo," from around 1525 to 1530, presents us with an engraving dominated by the allegorical figure of Fortitude. She sits confidently upon a lion, holding a broken column capital, against a backdrop of architectural ruins and a distant cityscape. The artist employs a dense network of fine lines to build form and texture, giving the figures a sculptural presence. The composition balances the sensuous curves of the female figure with the angular geometry of the ruined architecture. This interplay highlights a central theme: the resilience of the human spirit amidst the decay of civilizations. Fortitude's gaze is direct, embodying a resistance to adversity and a capacity to overcome destruction. The choice of engraving as a medium, with its emphasis on line and form, reinforces a stoic and enduring quality. This artwork serves as a meditation on inner strength, suggesting that true fortitude lies in confronting the fragility of existence.