1495
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Crucifixion is a 1495 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a man nailed to a cross at the center, surrounded by mourners. To the left, a woman in a hooded cloak clutches her hands together. To the right, a robed man stands with his arms crossed. Above the cross, angels hold tools. On the ground, scattered bones and a small figure kneel near the cross’s base. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and textures, like the folds in the robes or the muscles on the crucified man’s body. This was done through a method called cross-hatching. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.
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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