Johann Scheyring 1537

This is Lucas Cranach the Younger’s, “Johann Scheyring”, a woodcut on paper created in 1537. Cranach the Younger was a painter and printmaker for the Wittenberg court during the Reformation, a period marked by significant religious and political upheaval. Here, Johann Scheyring is rendered with careful detail, capturing the textures of his elaborate clothing and the contours of his face. The crisp lines of the woodcut create a sense of formality, befitting the sitter's status as a doctor. The work provides a window into the intersection of identity and class in 16th-century Germany. Scheyring’s identity as a man of learning and status is carefully constructed, reflecting a society that was deeply invested in visual markers of social standing. Though the Reformation sought to challenge existing power structures, the work also exemplifies how the era’s elites continued to reinforce their authority through portraiture and other visual means. The emotional presence of this work resonates with the enduring human desire to be seen, understood, and remembered.