1480
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Crucifixion is a 1480 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows a busy, chaotic scene with lots of people. In the middle, a man with a crown of thorns sits on a donkey. Around him, soldiers on horseback ride roughly. Three crosses stand in the background, with figures nailed to them. Below, a crowd watches or reacts—some kneel, others look up. The artist packed lots of tiny lines to create shadows and texture. This isn’t paint—it’s an engraving, where the lines are carved into metal. Want to know more? Try looking up engraving.
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
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