The Resurrection

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a bare-chested man rising from a tomb, his arms outstretched. Around him, three soldiers in armor slump in shock—one holds a broken spear, another clutches his head, and the third stares blankly. The tomb is open, and the scene is lit dramatically from above, with rays of light bursting behind the figure. Notice how the artist uses deep shadows and sharp contrasts to make the figures stand out. This was a common trick in Renaissance art to create a sense of depth. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works in other famous works.