A detailed 1528 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicting the personification of Faith, holding a chalice and wafer near the cross.

This engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever, dated 1528, depicts the personification of Faith. As a member of the Little Masters, a group of German printmakers known for their small-scale, highly detailed works, Aldegrever demonstrates technical precision here. The figure is shown in profile, gazing upward toward the feet of Christ on the cross, which are visible on the right side of the frame. She holds a chalice and a wafer, traditional symbols of the Eucharist, which serve as visual markers of her theological identity.

Aldegrever employs a dense system of hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and texture. The treatment of the fabric, particularly the puffed sleeves and the heavy chain draped across her bodice, reveals the influence of contemporary fashion. Her crown, rendered with sharp, clean lines, suggests a regal status, while her hair flows in loose, rhythmic curls. The background is dark and atmospheric, pushing the figure forward and ensuring the focus remains on her contemplative expression and the symbolic objects she carries.

This work is part of a series of allegorical figures produced by the artist during a period of significant religious and social change in Germany. The print reflects the Northern Renaissance interest in combining classical humanism with Christian iconography. The artist's monogram and the date are clearly visible in the upper left corner, a common practice for printmakers of the sixteenth century to establish authorship and provenance. The composition is balanced, with the verticality of the cross providing a structural anchor for the figure. The attention to detail in the rendering of the wood grain on the cross and the metallic sheen of the chalice demonstrates the artist's mastery of the burin. This print offers a clear example of the graphic arts during the early modern period, where small-format works allowed for the dissemination of complex allegorical subjects to a wider audience.