Christ on the Cross with Angels c. 1460 - 1470

This image of "Christ on the Cross with Angels" was created with woodcut, a relief printing process, by an anonymous artist. Woodcut, or woodblock printing, involves carving an image into the surface of a block of wood, applying ink to the remaining surface, and then pressing paper or fabric against the block to transfer the image. This particular print is hand-colored. You can see the texture of the wood grain throughout, especially in the figure of Christ. The cross itself looks like roughly hewn timber, and the base of the cross is built from geometric blocks. The patterned background is quite complex and visually engaging, and the artist has used a variety of colors to create a rich and detailed image. The labor-intensive nature of the woodcut process, combined with hand-coloring, suggests an intimate and devotional approach to production, making this print both a work of art and an object of faith. Paying attention to the making of this print enriches our understanding of its cultural significance.