Originality as repetition / repetition as originality: Daniel Hopfer (ca. 1470--1536) and the reinvention of the medium of etching

Daniel Hopfer developed and refined a new means of mechanical reproduction, making the medium of etching available for public consumption. Within the scholarship, he is credited with the reinvention of etching in Germany for the purposes of printmaking and is praised as an innovator, yet he is also maligned as derivative and labeled a mere craftsman. As a result, Hopfer's artistic personality has eluded clear explanation. This dissertation reconsiders Hopfer's artistic productions across media, looking at his armor decoration as well as his prints, and explores the contemporary implications of his works and their reflection of and participation in the cultural, political, socio-economic, and religious happenings in Augsburg during the first three decades of the sixteenth century.; This dissertation is organized thematically so that the works Hopfer executed in specific subject areas throughout his career can be examined together as cohesive groups. Before delving into the various themes, the Introduction redefines Hopfer's artistic enterprise by revealing the functions of and necessity for printed imitations in both artists' workshops and the art market. This obviates the need to characterize his work as imitation and presents the opportunity to ask more analytical questions. Chapter Two initiates the discussion of prevalent themes in Hopfer's oeuvre and examines his extensive interest in the topos of the Power of Women. Chapter Three explores the varied religious imagery that the artist created during the tumultuous period between ca. 1500 and the mid-1530s. Chapter Chapter Four considers how Hopfer's endeavors in portraiture were affected by his association with Augsburg humanists, who collected and studied ancient coins and medals. In the context of ornament, the final chapter revisits the question of whether Hopfer is more a craftsman than an artist; Hopfer conforms to definitions of both, but rather than mocking his identity or achievement, such a joint designation provides the true parameters for understanding his artistic enterprise.