The Young White King at the Butts 1514 - 1516

Leonhard Beck’s woodcut presents us with a regal figure amidst an archery contest, a scene brimming with symbolic weight. The bow and arrow, ancient symbols of power and skill, appear not just as tools for sport, but as emblems of the hunt and even war. Think of Apollo, the god of archery, who could strike from afar with precision. Yet, here, the 'young white king', draped in ermine, seems detached, almost passively observing. This detachment brings to mind the medieval concept of the 'lance of Longinus', a holy relic, and the dichotomy between earthly power and divine purpose. The act of archery itself, the drawing back of the bow, resembles a tension that is eventually released—a primal act that has resonated across cultures and eras, embodying aspirations, conflicts, and resolutions. Beck’s woodcut thus engages with the viewer on a subconscious level, echoing the ongoing cycles of human history.