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The Crucifixion

German 15th Century

1495

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

The Crucifixion is a 1495 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 15th Century
When & what style?: 1495 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a busy scene of a crucifixion. A man is nailed to a cross in the center, with others around him—some praying, some pointing. Bright colors like blue, red, and green fill the scene, but the edges look worn, like it’s old. The artist used woodcut, a printing method where the design is carved into wood. That’s why the lines are sharp and the colors were added by hand later. Look up woodcut next to see how this method worked.