Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment is a 1630 ink by Christoph Murer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene of people scattered across a rocky landscape. At the center, a robed figure stands with arms outstretched, surrounded by smaller figures—some reaching upward, others kneeling or crawling. The sky above is stormy, filled with jagged lines and dark clouds, while the ground looks uneven and rough. The artist used sharp, bold lines to create a sense of urgency and movement, with every figure caught in a different pose. This style was common in religious art of the time to show drama and emotion. Next, check out the technique: woodcut to see how artists like this carved images into wood blocks.
