Artwork
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross is an ink print by the Renaissance artist French 15th Century. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ on the Cross is a hand-colored woodcut print on laid paper, depicting a crucifixion scene with a bearded figure on the cross and mourners below.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays the crucifixion of Christ, with a bearded figure on the cross, accompanied by two mourners and a fallen soldier, alongside a skull, symbolizing mortality and the site of the crucifixion.
Technique & Style
The print was created using a woodcut technique, with the design carved into wood and then hand-colored in flat tones of red, light blue, and gray, allowing for mass production and dissemination.
Artist & collection
Artist
An anonymous French hand glued vivid woodcuts into the lids of wooden boxes meant to ride on horseback, like secret postcards from God.
