Kracht (Fortitudo) 1539

Sebald Beham’s “Kracht (Fortitudo)”, made with engraving, presents us with a tightly composed allegorical scene, dominated by the figure of Fortitude herself. Note how the cross-hatching creates a dense network of lines, giving the figures a sculptural, almost tangible presence, while the subtle gradations in tone model the forms, lending them a soft roundness. The composition is structured around a vertical axis, anchored by the pillar inscribed with "FORTITUDO". This lends a sense of stability. However, Beham destabilizes this classical motif with the woman's pose, her melancholic gaze and the inclusion of the lion and grotesque head. The work is imbued with a sense of tension between classical ideals and a more introspective, even unsettling, perspective. The formal qualities of the engraving are not merely aesthetic but contribute to a broader cultural discourse on virtue, challenging fixed meanings through innovative representation. This small print encapsulates the complexities of its time, reflecting shifting intellectual and artistic currents.