1526
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Der Bapst (The Pope) is a 1526 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white woodcut shows a chaotic scene with a pope in the center, holding a skull. Around him, people in robes and crowns look tense or angry. One man holds a cross, another waves a scroll, and a third clutches a crown. The background has swirling lines and a throne, making the whole image feel crowded and dramatic. The title at the top, *Der Bapst*, hints this is about the pope’s power—or maybe his downfall. The skull in his hands is a clear symbol, but what it means here isn’t obvious. Next, check out technique: woodcut to see how artists like this made prints before photography.
Hans Lützelburger (died June 1526), also known as Hans Franck, was a German blockcutter ("formschneider") for woodcuts, regarded as one of the finest of his day.
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