Artwork
The Battle Against the Blue Company
The Battle Against the Blue Company is a print by the Renaissance artist Leonhard Beck. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This woodcut shows knights on horseback in a fight. One side wears white, the other blue. The trees and ground are simple and flat.
It was made for a book about Emperor Maximilian. The art was printed, not painted. Back then, printed images spread news fast. This one boosted the emperor’s fame.
If you like early prints, try another by Leonhard Beck (German, c. 1480–1542).
Overview
The Battle Against the Blue Company is a woodcut print illustrating a pivotal scene from Der Weisskunig (The White King), the autobiographical courtly romance of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. The work depicts a clash between armored knights, distinguishable by their white and blue attire, set against a simplified landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The print symbolizes the conflict between Maximilian I (the White King) and his French adversaries (the Blue King's party). It serves as a visual narrative of imperial authority and ideology, reinforcing Maximilian's image as a heroic, chivalrous ruler.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the piece features bold, flat forms and a limited color palette (white, blue, and simple groundscape), characteristic of early Renaissance printmaking. The style blends medieval chivalric themes with emerging Renaissance illustrative techniques.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by Maximilian I, this woodcut was part of Der Weisskunig, one of several grand print projects undertaken by the emperor to disseminate his legacy and political vision. The project involved a collaborative effort among various artisans and intellectuals of the time.
Context
Created during Maximilian I's reign (1486–1519), the print reflects the emperor's pioneering use of printed media for political and personal image cultivation, leveraging the rapid dissemination capabilities of print technology to enhance his reputation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Leonhard Beck (c. 1480 – 1542) was a painter and woodcuts designer in Augsburg, Germany. He was the son of Georg Beck, a miniaturist who was active in Augsburg c. 1490–1512/15. Leonhard collaborated with his father on…
Battle of the Foot Soldiers with Lances
First Flemish Rebellion
Battle of Cividale
The Storming of Nantes
The Art of Jousting and Tilting
The War at Hainault
How the French King made war on the King of Feuereisen in his realm and how the King of Feuereisen died in the battle
The Tournament with lances
Various Men Kneeling on a Bridge in front of a Town
Martyrdom of St. Matthias
Der Weisskunig (The White King): The Siege of Padua
Saint George Slaying the Dragon