Christ on the Cross between the Virgin Mary and St John
1450
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This black-and-white photo shows a man nailed to a cross at the center, his head tilted back. To his left, a woman in a dark hooded cloak stands with her hands clasped. To his right, another figure kneels, reaching up toward him, while a third person stands nearby with their head bowed. On the ground in front of the cross, there’s a skull. The skull at the base of the cross is a common symbol in religious art, often called the *skull of Adam*. It hints at the idea of Jesus’ sacrifice linking past and present. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how artists use light and shadow to create drama.
