David and Abigail 1509

Lucas Cranach the Elder made this woodcut of David and Abigail. We can see an allegorical scene from the Bible, one that might comment on the social structures of its time. Produced in the 16th century, during the early years of the Protestant Reformation, the image creates meaning through the visual codes that would be familiar to its original audience. Cranach’s workshop in Wittenberg was closely linked to Martin Luther. Thus, an image of a woman kneeling before an armed man could have been understood as speaking to the role of the church versus the state, or perhaps as a statement on free will. Note the coat-of-arms hanging from the bare tree. Historians consult many resources when interpreting art. These include letters, literature, and economic data, among other things. Understanding art relies on understanding the social and institutional contexts of its production.