Saint Simon
1512
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
See the richer artist page1512
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Simon is a 1512 ink by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print is packed with figures and symbols. In the center, a tall saint holds a long cross while others crowd around him. Trees, buildings, and small people fill the background, all drawn with sharp lines. Some faces look upward, as if watching something happen above. The artist used a single tool to carve the image into wood, then inked it to make many copies. This was a common way to spread religious stories before printing was widespread. Try looking up woodcut to see how this technique worked.
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
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