The Resurrection c. 1510 - 1520

Editor: This is a stained-glass roundel from around 1510 to 1520, titled "The Resurrection" by Hans Schäufelein. The fractured look of the image makes me feel unsettled but also intrigued; it has a puzzle-like quality. How do you interpret this work and its imagery? Curator: It's more than just a puzzle; it's a coded message from a world steeped in religious symbolism. Consider the medium itself – glass. Light filters through, transforming into an ethereal glow, mirroring the transformative power of resurrection. The circle, or roundel, encloses this event. Circular forms often represent eternity and wholeness. Notice the figure of Christ, emerging from what appears to be a cave, rendered in dynamic, almost swirling lines. How does that motion strike you? Editor: It gives him a sense of rising or floating – defying gravity, even. Is the swirling supposed to be spiritual? Curator: Exactly. That motion is central; his robes flow and bend like his own ascent disturb the air around him. It communicates divine movement. See how the sleeping figures are cast in shadow at the bottom, unaware of the monumental event unfolding. The blue hues above and on the sides are interesting too - the heavenly presence surrounding Christ. These colors elicit peace and trust, especially compared to the murky tones from the earth. Editor: So, the combination of shapes, colors, and figures comes together to reinforce the cultural significance of resurrection through familiar iconography? Curator: Precisely. It's a visual encapsulation of faith, hope, and the promise of eternal life, made especially vivid through the selection of colors and symbolism - especially powerful considering that stained glass like this would likely have been accessible to people who couldn't read, during that era. It's fascinating to consider how powerful this symbolism might have been to someone encountering this piece 500 years ago! Editor: It’s incredible to think about the depth of meaning packed into one small stained-glass piece. I see it with new eyes now.