The Crucifixion (Round) (copy) 1800 - 1860

Johannes Riepenhausen created this print of the Crucifixion in the 18th or 19th century. This etching of the crucifixion presents a scene deeply embedded in Western religious and cultural history. Consider the institutional context of this work: prints like this one served to disseminate religious imagery widely and cheaply. Germany, where Riepenhausen was from, had been the birthplace of the Reformation, with complex relationships between the Catholic Church and new forms of Protestantism. The image’s iconography borrows heavily from earlier artistic traditions, particularly the engraving style pioneered by artists like Dürer, demonstrating the power of reproduction and the appeal of older, established forms. The choice to replicate an earlier style may reflect a conservative sensibility, seeking to reinforce traditional religious values through familiar visual language. For historians, understanding this print requires considering its role within broader debates about religion, art, and cultural identity in 19th-century Europe. We can research its place in the history of printmaking and religious art and its audience.