Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment Possibly 1630

Christoph Murer created this intricate engraving, "Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment," around the turn of the 17th century. Murer lived during a time of significant religious and social upheaval. The Protestant Reformation had challenged the Catholic Church's authority. The print reflects the period's intense focus on salvation, divine judgment, and the fate of humanity. The artist masterfully divides the composition, staging an intimate encounter with Christ on the right, while a theatrical depiction of heaven and hell unfolds on the left. The disciple's faces convey a sense of fear. The figures rising from their graves and angels descending from the heavens, point to the overwhelming and otherworldly experience of divine judgment. Through dramatic imagery, Murer taps into deep-seated anxieties about morality, sin, and redemption. The artwork serves as a mirror reflecting the complex spiritual and emotional landscape of Murer's time.