Who painted Road Map of Central Europe?

Road Map of Central Europe was painted by Erhard Etzlaub in 1500.

Where can I see Road Map of Central Europe?

Road Map of Central Europe is held by Rosenwald Collection.

What movement is Road Map of Central Europe?

Road Map of Central Europe is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Road Map of Central Europe?

Museum-quality prints of Road Map of Central Europe are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Road Map of Central Europe

Erhard Etzlaub , 1500

Road Map of Central Europe is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Erhard Etzlaub. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Rosenwald Collection.

Inscription: Inscribed:across top, in block: Das is der Rom weg von meylen zu meylen mit puncten verzeychnet von eyner stat zu der andern durch deutzsche lant (This is the way to Rome mile by mile with points from one city to another through the German lands)

About this work

This painting shows a map of Central Europe. It's interesting because it was made around 1500, a time when maps were not very common. The details on the map are quite basic, but it gives us an idea of what people knew about the area back then. You can learn more about this kind of mapmaking by looking into the technique: woodcut.

Overview

Though modest in detail, the map offers a snapshot of contemporary geographic knowledge and the emerging practice of printed cartography.

Erhard Etzlaub’s woodcut, dated to around 1500, presents a schematic representation of Central Europe. The print focuses on the territories of the Holy Roman Empire, outlining major regions and political boundaries as they were understood at the turn of the sixteenth century. Though modest in detail, the map offers a snapshot of contemporary geographic knowledge and the emerging practice of printed cartography.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualises the political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, highlighting its constituent duchies, bishoprics, and free cities. By arranging these entities on a single sheet, Etzlaub provides a functional overview for travelers and officials, reflecting the period’s need for accessible geographic information in an era before comprehensive surveys.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the image was carved into a wooden block, inked, and pressed onto paper, allowing multiple copies to be produced. The linear, high‑contrast style typical of early printmaking yields a clear, if simplified, depiction of borders and place names, emphasizing readability over artistic embellishment.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1500, the map belongs to a wave of printed atlases that spread across Europe as the printing press gained prominence. Etzlaub, a noted cartographer and instrument maker, distributed such prints to merchants and scholars, contributing to the gradual standardisation of regional maps during the Renaissance.