The Resurrection, from "The Passion"
Original title: The Resurrection, from "The Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Christ rises from the dead, an event Lucas Cranach the Elder captures in this woodcut. The sheet belongs to his Passion series; the exact date of its creation is not recorded. Soldiers lie on the ground while the risen figure stands tall at the center.
Description
On the right, Christ raises his hand, barefoot and wrapped in a robe; his gaze is serious and withdrawn. Around him are several armored knights, some unconscious, others wounded on the ground. Trees and glimpses of a city form the setting, placing the action between nature and settlement. The layout is symmetrically focused on Christ, with clear contours.
Context
This print is part of Cranach's Passion series. Precise dating is lacking, but the sheet is placed within the artist's working years in the early 16th century. As court painter to the Saxon electors, Cranach shaped the art of the Reformation in Wittenberg. Prints like this made religious subjects accessible to a wide audience.
Impact
Christ's central position and the symmetrical arrangement give the sheet a calm, solemn mood. Even lighting and detailed linework create a clear, insistent presence. The moment of resurrection appears both as triumph and as a moment of reflection.
Technique
For this woodcut, the design was cut into a wooden block and then printed on paper. The result is monochrome, as is usual for this print technique; strong, clear outlines define the image. The sheet measures 24.6 × 16 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)