The Lamentation, from The Passion
Original title: The Lamentation, from The Passion
kurzbeschreibung
A woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder from his Passion series: the Lamentation. The sheet measures 24.9 × 17 cm; the year of execution is not recorded. It shows the lifeless Christ surrounded by mourning figures dressed in Renaissance garments.
Description
Christ lies stretched out on the ground while several figures stand and crouch facing him, their postures and gestures expressing grief. Trees, hills and a partially cropped building fill the rear, and two coats of arms sit at the upper left and right. The layout arranges itself symmetrically around the reclining body, with tonal values arising from varying line weight and direction.
Context
The woodcut series The Passion was probably made in Cranach's Wittenberg workshop, where he had served as court painter to the Saxon electors since 1505. The series was intended for a broad audience as religious instruction. The two coats of arms suggest a patron or a dedication, though their identity cannot be established with certainty.
Impact
The tightly grouped figures and the central placement of the body draw the viewer into immediate emotional involvement. Clear lines and a spare arrangement direct the gaze to the event and lend the scene a solemn calm.
Technique
Lines build the image: the block is cut, then printed in black on paper. Grey values come solely from the varying density and direction of the hatching. The paper size of roughly 24.9 × 17 cm matches the usual devotional print of the period.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)