Het monument voor Martin Luther in Worms before 1868

This anonymous print depicts the Lutherdenkmal, or Luther Monument, in Worms. It presents a set of visual codes that speak volumes about 19th-century Germany's cultural and political climate. This monument commemorates Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. Luther challenged the Catholic Church's authority in the 16th century, which led to a schism within Christianity, and had profound implications for European politics. The monument in Worms, Germany, built centuries after his death, serves as a cultural symbol during a period of intense national self-definition. Note how the artist presents Luther as a towering, almost saintly figure, surrounded by other Reformation figures. This monument becomes a symbol of German national identity, linking religious reform with notions of German strength and independence. To fully understand this image, we can consult historical archives, theological texts, and studies of German national identity. By examining its historical context, we understand the monument’s cultural work, and how the image promotes a particular version of German history and identity.