Bilder Sebastian Münster – View of Frankfurt an der Oder – Woodcut from Cosmographia – 1558 Edition

Beskrivning

This large-format woodcut offers a bird’s-eye view of Frankfurt an der Oder, an important trading city on the eastern border of Brandenburg in present-day Germany. The city is shown encircled by medieval walls with towers, gates, bridges over the Oder River, churches, and rows of timber-framed houses. Above the cityscape, banners and Germanic type identify the town and its historical significance. The print combines cartographic representation with an artistic panorama, characteristic of Münster’s style.

This view was published in the 1558 Latin edition of Cosmographia, Sebastian Münster’s monumental geographic encyclopedia. First issued in 1544, the Cosmographia was one of the most important books of the Renaissance, blending humanist scholarship with visual representations of cities, cultures, and regions of the known world.

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and professor at the University of Basel. His Cosmographia was one of the first printed works to bring together maps, history, and ethnographic commentary in an accessible and richly illustrated format. His city views are among the most iconic and widely collected woodcuts of the 16th century.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster

Dimensions: 34 × 44 cm

Medium: Woodcut on Laid Paper

Date: 1558 (from Cosmographia)

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.