The late 15th and 16th centuries saw the Catholic Church being attacked by reformers. And the printing press, introduced by Johann Gutenberg about 1440, became a great weapon of the reformers. The exhibit’s focus was on the struggle for freedom of the printed word and image since printing with movable type was introduced.

Our guide explained: ‘Martin Luther succeeded largely because of his brilliant use of the printing press to spread his message rapidly, while reformers such as John Wycliffe and John Huss, who lived before the printing press, were defeated by the Catholic Church.’

Printed sheets, or broadsides, against the religious doctrines of the church spread throughout Europe within a few months of Luther’s break with the church. For example, from our examination of Luther’s Gnade unde Frede in Christo (Grace and Peace in Christ), 1523, we could easily see why it raised the ire of the church. Luther urged people to live according to Christian moral standards as revealed in the Bible rather than try to conform to the codes of conduct established by the church. ‘It was difficult for the censors to stop the circulation of such broadsides,’ our guide noted.

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The printing press, introduced by Johann Gutenberg, proved to be a great weapon of reformers