Silver Statuette of St. John, from the Wittenberg Reliquaries 1472 - 1553

Lucas Cranach the Elder created this print of the Silver Statuette of St. John. The figure of St. John is rendered through a dense network of lines, a dominant feature that defines the contours and textures. Look closely at how the lines create a feeling of depth, particularly in the drapery and the saint’s curly hair. The composition is structured around the verticality of the standing figure, lending it a sense of solemnity. Cranach was working during the Reformation. His choices in portraying religious figures reflect broader theological and philosophical currents of the time, questioning established meanings. Consider, too, how the use of line in printmaking is more than just a technique, it is a signifier, an indicator of broader cultural shifts in art production and consumption. The statuette and its representation invite us to consider how religious art functions within society. Artworks are sites for interpreting cultural values and philosophical concerns, and how these interpretations evolve across time.