Christ before Herod, from "The Passion"
Original title: Christ before Herod, from "The Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Bound and surrounded by armed men, Christ stands before Herod — a motif from Lucas Cranach the Elder's Passion cycle. This undated sheet measures 24.7 × 17 cm and belongs to a woodcut series on the suffering of Christ. Soldiers and civilians crowd around the central figure.
Description
In simple robes with his hands tied, Christ occupies the middle of the sheet. Armored soldiers and plainly dressed civilians stand close around him. Above his head angels and leaves hover; to the sides in the background appear coats of arms with shield and helmet. An architectural arched frame encloses the view, which works in black and white with strong contrasts of light and dark.
Context
Cranach produced several Passion cycles in woodcut that circulated widely during the Reformation. Exactly when this sheet was made is not recorded, but it falls within his most productive years of graphic work in Wittenberg. The coats of arms may point to a commission or a dedication to a noble patron.
Impact
Sharp contours and the high-contrast black-and-white print give the subject an urgent presence. Christ's calm posture meets the dense throng of figures around him. The arched frame reinforces the solemn tone of the sheet.
Technique
Printing was done from a woodblock with the light areas cut away. Bold black areas and thin white lines create a richly drawn internal structure. Characteristic of Cranach's printmaking is the assured knife work that brings out even small details such as the coats of arms and angels clearly.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)