1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Arrest of Christ is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene of people grabbing at each other. At the center, a figure in a white robe is surrounded by men with swords and clubs. One man holds a lantern, casting a small light on the crowd’s tangled arms and faces. The background is filled with sharp lines and rays, making the scene feel crowded and intense. Notice how the artist used only black and white to create drama. The rough edges of the woodcut lines make the figures look urgent and rough. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printmaking technique works.
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
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