The Resurrection, from The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ 1508 - 1518

Albrecht Altdorfer created this woodcut, "The Resurrection," part of his "Fall and Salvation of Mankind" series, sometime in the early 16th century. The composition is striking; the figure of Christ dominates, radiating light against the dense cross-hatching which defines the background. Note how the linear texture intensifies the dramatic contrast between light and shadow. The artist employs a semiotic language here, where light symbolizes divinity and knowledge, cutting through the darkness of ignorance and death. The woodcut medium itself—with its stark, graphic quality—emphasizes the concepts of destruction and rebirth central to the Resurrection story. The sharp lines and textured surfaces of the print serve to destabilize the narrative. This work is not merely illustrative but stands as a testament to Altdorfer's ability to explore the intersections of material form, religious narrative, and philosophical inquiry. This small print invites ongoing interpretation, where the visual and the spiritual intertwine.