Christ and the Woman of Samaria (Woodcut; first state of three)
Original title: Christ and the Woman of Samaria
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder designed this woodcut after the biblical encounter between Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well. The sheet was made in the early 16th century and bears no date; it has come down to us in the first of three print states. Its dimensions are 27.7 × 15.7 cm.
Description
A stone well with a roof anchors the foreground, and the abbreviation 'LVC' is engraved into its face. To its left stands Christ, bearded and long-haired, wearing a robe and holding a scroll. On the right, a woman draws water from the well with a bucket. Trees, a landscape with buildings and a tower close off the space behind.
Context
Cranach produced numerous woodcuts with biblical subjects for Reformation image propaganda. The source here is the Gospel of John (John 4:5–42). The monogram 'LVC' identifies the artist, who ran a major workshop in Wittenberg.
Impact
The eye is first drawn to the well, then glides to the two figures, whose posture quietly sounds out the conversation. Evenly distributed light and finely set hatching contribute to the scene's contemplative mood. Clear lines structure the layout without creating unrest.
Technique
For this woodcut, the drawing was cut into a wooden block and then printed. The monochrome effect comes from the depth of the engraving and the shading of the lines.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)