Two prints: The Crucifixion on recto and Christ Bearing the Cross on verso, from The Passion 1472 - 1553

Lucas Cranach the Elder made this print of The Crucifixion from a woodcut, a relief printing technique, during the early 16th century. The image is made through laborious mark-making on a block of wood, cutting away the negative space around the lines of the composition. The remaining raised lines are then inked and pressed onto paper. The very act of creating a woodcut necessitates a simplification of form, and a directness of expression that is not unlike carving itself. Look closely, and you can see the distinct graphic quality of the lines, which are sharp and angular. Beyond aesthetics, woodcuts like this one played a crucial role in the dissemination of information and ideas during the Reformation. This particular print, with its depiction of the suffering Christ surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, speaks to the intense religious and social upheaval of the time. Considering the material and the making, it is clear that Cranach's choice of woodcut was not just an artistic one, but a strategic one, allowing for the mass production and distribution of his message. This print serves as a reminder of the power of art to shape public opinion, and the importance of understanding the materials and processes behind it.