The Crucifixion c. 1505

Editor: So, this is Hans Baldung's woodcut, "The Crucifixion." It's powerfully intense, a small but mighty piece. What do you make of its raw emotion? Curator: It’s like Baldung's ripped open a vein and bled emotion onto the woodblock, don't you think? The figures are contorted, expressions agonized. What do you feel when you see such a visceral scene rendered with such stark lines? Is it beauty? Terror? Editor: Definitely a mix of both. It’s unsettling, but I can’t look away. What do you notice first? Curator: Oh, always the sky—the heavens wrestling with the earthly drama below. Then, my eyes dart through the figures, a chaotic ballet of grief and cruelty. What sticks with you after a longer look? Editor: The details, probably. It’s made me think a lot about the power of the artist to make you feel like you are really there.