Tempel met graf van Christus in Jerusalem 1486 - 1488

This woodcut depicting the Temple with the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem was made by Erhard Reuwich. Its stark contrasts and linear precision were meant to serve a clear didactic purpose. It was created at a time when the printing press was revolutionizing the spread of information. The image provided a way for people who could not travel to the Holy Land to visualize the sacred sites. This was particularly important for fostering religious devotion and solidifying Christian identity in the face of other religions. One can consider the perspective through which Jerusalem is depicted. Is the artist trying to recreate the place as it is, or as it should be in the mind of the beholder? The answer is not as important as the question itself. We can learn about the cultural and religious values of the time by studying this and similar artworks.