Saint Christopher 1506

Lucas Cranach the Elder created this woodcut of Saint Christopher, sometime in the early 16th century. It depicts the popular medieval legend of a giant carrying a child across a river, unaware that the child is Christ, and that he bears the weight of the world on his shoulders. Cranach was working in Germany during the Reformation. His art often grappled with shifting religious and political landscapes. Woodcuts, like this one, were a particularly effective medium for disseminating ideas quickly and widely. Notice the figure of Saint Christopher, staff in hand, rendered with strong, clear lines against a detailed landscape. The print medium allowed Cranach to reach a broad audience with his artistic vision. Studying Reformation-era prints like this allows us to understand how art could participate in the religious and political debates of its time. We can use sources in the Wittenberg archives to better understand the complex history behind the artist and his work.