Maximiliaan I, Duits keizer 1547

This small silver diamond, created by Hans Reinhart the Elder, presents Maximiliaan the First, German Emperor. The object’s bilateral symmetry is immediately striking, divided into two distinct sides that work to encapsulate the essence of imperial power. On one face, Reinhart meticulously renders a profile of Maximiliaan, capturing the texture of his garments and the contours of his face in minute detail. The opposite side bears an inscription, a semiotic anchor that firmly labels and historicizes the image. The choice of a diamond shape disrupts the conventional circular form, and suggests a dynamic interplay between the figure and the concept of power. The artist uses a unique format to convey status and authority. The use of silver as a medium enhances the symbolic weight of the object, transforming it into more than just a portrait but into a structural artifact deeply embedded in the cultural and philosophical discourse of its time.