1490
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Man of Sorrows is a 1490 ink by French 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a barefoot man with a halo, carrying a large rock on his back. He’s dressed in a simple white cloth, and his face looks sad. Around him, there’s a palm branch, a tall vase, and a basket—all outlined in bold black lines against a bright orange background with gold stars. The painting uses flat colors and simple shapes, which was common in religious art of the time. The halos and text in the background hint at a story from Christian tradition. Look up woodcut to see how this print was made.
This artist hid their best work inside old travel trunks. They glued vivid woodcuts into the lids of wooden boxes meant to be carried on horseback, like secret postcards from God. If you’ve ever pried open a cracked lid…
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