Christus als Salvator Mundi 1490 - 1538

Hans Schäufelein created this woodcut titled "Christus als Salvator Mundi," or "Christ as Savior of the World," sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Consider the weight of this image, produced during the Reformation when religious beliefs were being questioned and reshaped. Schäufelein was working in a society undergoing profound change. He was known for his close association with Albrecht Dürer, whose artistic style greatly influenced Schäufelein's work. In the work, Christ is at the center of a natural world filled with symbols of abundance and freedom. The birds, the wheat, and the grapes might remind us of the gifts of the earth, and the promise of spiritual nourishment. Christ appears as both human and divine; the orb and cross in his left hand signify his dominion over the world, while his open stance seems to welcome all. Consider what it might have meant to viewers at the time to see Christ depicted in such an accessible, almost earthly way.