1506
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Ecstasy of Saint Mary Magdalene is a 1506 ink by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a crowd of winged angels swirling around a central figure. The scene is busy, with tiny buildings and trees below, as if the angels are floating above a town. The lines are sharp and dark against a light background, making everything stand out clearly. The artist used a technique that carves images into wood, then prints them—this is called woodcut. The angels have soft, rounded faces and flowing robes, giving them a gentle look despite the chaos. Next, check out how woodcut works as a technique.
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
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