Lamentation for Christ
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene of people gathered around a body on the ground. Trees loom behind them, and a ladder leans against one trunk. The figures look upset, with one person’s hands raised as if in grief. A helmet and broken pot lie on the ground near the body. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to make the scene feel dramatic. The mix of nature and human emotion suggests a moment of deep sorrow. Next, look up the technique: woodcut to see how artists like Baldung Grien made prints like this.
