The Last Supper, from The Fall and Redemption of Man 1513

Albrecht Altdorfer created this woodcut, "The Last Supper," part of "The Fall and Redemption of Man" series, using bold lines to define form and space. The composition, though small, feels monumental, dominated by the figures gathered around the table, set against an arched, windowed backdrop. The dense, cross-hatched lines create a dramatic contrast, heightening the emotional intensity of the scene. The light emanating from Christ destabilizes the pictorial space, drawing attention to the theological weight of the moment. Altdorfer uses the starkness of the woodcut medium to emphasize the themes of sacrifice and spiritual revelation. Notice how the artist's formal choices—the compressed space, the dynamic lines, and the strategic use of light—function beyond mere illustration. They create a symbolic language that engages with broader questions of faith, redemption, and the human condition, inviting endless interpretation.