Resurrection of Christ
Original title: Resurrection of Christ
kurzbeschreibung
Ugo da Carpi made this chiaroscuro woodcut around 1520–27 on the theme of the Resurrection of Christ. Printed from three blocks in green, the sheet sets light and shadow against each other with unusual force. At 15.6 × 41.6 cm, it belongs to a series of Passion scenes.
Description
Christ lies motionless on the ground in front, two men holding him up. Beside them stands a man with a sabre, his gaze fixed on Christ. Further back a woman with long hair and a veil strides from right to left. A rock face closes off the view, giving the whole a sombre mood. Grey dominates the palette, with green shadows setting accents; the foreground figures emerge brighter than the dark landscape.
Context
Ugo da Carpi, an Italian printmaker, brought the chiaroscuro woodcut to Italy around 1516. The sheet dates from the High Renaissance, when artists were increasingly working with contrasts of light. The subject follows the tradition of Resurrection imagery but shows an unusual scene with the dead Christ that recalls an Entombment. The series may have been made for private devotion or for collectors.
Impact
The strong contrast of light and dark creates a dramatic, almost theatrical mood. The dark rock face and the pale figures draw the eye to the central group and heighten the gravity of the moment. The green toning gives the print a cool, detached aura that stresses its religious solemnity.
Technique
Three woodblocks in green were used for printing, as was customary in the chiaroscuro woodcut. Tone blocks produce the shadows, a line block the contours. The precise execution shows Ugo da Carpi's high level of craftsmanship, working with fine lines and graduated tones.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)