Christ Crowned with Thorns, from the Passion 1472 - 1553

This print of Christ Crowned with Thorns was created by Lucas Cranach the Elder, using woodcut on paper. Looking closely, you can see that the image is made up of many lines, all carefully cut into the surface of a block of wood. The areas that Cranach cut away do not hold ink, and appear white in the final print. The remaining raised areas take the ink, and when pressed onto paper, create the image. Woodcut is a relief printing technique that requires a great deal of skill, and physical work: the density of the wood resists the blade. Here, the stark contrast created by the medium emphasizes the violence of the scene, highlighting the suffering of Christ at the hands of his tormentors. Remember that prints like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, and could be widely distributed, making them a powerful tool for spreading religious ideas. Cranach, a close friend of Martin Luther, was a master of using printmaking to promote the Reformation. By focusing on the processes involved in making this artwork, we can better appreciate its historical and social significance.