Lamentation for Christ c. 16th century

Curator: Lucas Cranach the Elder's "Lamentation for Christ," now housed at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a compelling study in grief and composition. Editor: It's somber, isn't it? That rigid body laid out starkly, all those downturned faces practically vibrating with sorrow. Curator: The woodcut medium is important here, enabling the sharp lines that delineate emotion and texture, and also making the work accessible for wider distribution. Editor: I feel the weight of it, not just the somber mood, but the stark black and white creating almost a physical pressure of grief. You can almost feel the scratch of the block itself. Curator: Exactly. Cranach’s utilization of this reproducible medium allowed for the widespread dissemination of his interpretation of the Passion. Editor: The level of detail for a woodcut is intense; this could be easily read as a metal engraving if I didn't know better. So many complex emotions rendered with sharp lines. Curator: A testament to both the skill and context of the artist as artisan. Editor: It definitely lingers. A heavy piece, but a moving one.