Christ Calming the Storm on Lake Tiberias, from Das Plenarium 1517

Hans Schäufelein created this woodcut, ‘Christ Calming the Storm on Lake Tiberias,’ around 1510-15. Observe how the composition is structured by a contrast between the static figure of Christ on the shore and the chaotic scene within the boat. Schäufelein uses bold lines to capture the churning water and the distressed figures struggling against the storm, the yellow of the boat pops against the muted greens and browns, enhancing the drama. The rigidity of the lines and the flattened perspective are typical of early woodcut prints. Yet, it's within these formal constraints that Schäufelein explores the semiotics of power and faith. The imbalance between the calm, controlled figure of Christ and the turmoil of the storm creates a powerful visual metaphor for divine intervention. Notice how Schäufelein uses scale to emphasize Christ's dominance, and how the cultural codes of gesture and expression amplify the narrative. This artwork challenges fixed meanings. It invites us to reflect on the nature of belief, the power of representation, and the artist's role in shaping spiritual understanding.