Christ on the cross between the virgin and St. John
1542
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1542
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white print shows a crucifixion scene. Christ is nailed to a cross in the center, arms spread wide. To his left is a robed woman with her hands clasped, and to his right is a bearded man with his palms open. The background is packed with small figures, angels, and Latin text on scrolls. Notice how the artist used deep shadows and strong contrasts to make the figures stand out. The skull at the base of the cross is a quiet detail often tied to death and rebirth. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other art.
