Portret van Martin Luther 1817

Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer created this portrait of Martin Luther using etching and line engraving techniques. Meyer created this print in the 19th century, a time when Romanticism and nationalism were on the rise. This portrait contributes to the construction of Luther as a monumental figure of German identity. The etching captures Luther in a moment of contemplation, holding a book, presumably the Bible, his gaze directed upwards, perhaps towards divine inspiration. The details in his face and clothing give a sense of the character and status that Luther held. Meyer’s work reflects the 19th-century tendency to look back to the Reformation as a key moment in German history, Laden with the weight of religious and political reform. This image invites us to reflect on the ongoing dialogue between faith, identity, and power, in both personal and collective spheres.