The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist 1512

Albrecht Altdorfer made this print, ‘The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist,’ around 1512, using woodcut on paper. A woodcut is a relief printing process, where the artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood, leaving the design raised. Ink is then applied to the raised surface and pressed onto paper. Look closely and you can see how Altdorfer skillfully cut away at the wood to create fine lines and intricate details. The stark contrast between black and white, achieved through the woodcut technique, gives the scene a dramatic quality. Woodcut was a relatively accessible and affordable medium, allowing artists like Altdorfer to produce multiple copies of their work and reach a wider audience. The labor-intensive process reflects a time when craft and artistry were deeply intertwined, before industrialization changed modes of production. Considering the material, process, and social context of this print enhances our understanding of the image itself.