The Last Judgment
1490
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1490
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Last Judgment is a 1490 ink by Master MF, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut is packed with tiny, busy figures. At the top, a big group of people floats in the air. Some look happy, some scared. Below, more figures stand on a flat ground, pointing or gesturing. The edges are filled with swirly patterns and small circles with faces inside. Notice how the artist crammed so much into one image. Every inch is full of action, even the borders. The lines are all carved into wood—no brushstrokes here. Check out how woodcut works next—it’s a whole different way of making art.
