Christ on the Cross with Angels by Anonymous

Christ on the Cross with Angels c. 1460 - 1470

print

natural stone pattern

naturalistic pattern

germany

loose pattern

print

pattern background

abstract pattern

tattoo art

layered pattern

funky pattern

pattern in nature

doodle art

This anonymous woodblock print, "Christ on the Cross with Angels", from c. 1460-1470, is a powerful image of the crucifixion. Christ is depicted on the cross, flanked by angels, with the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist at his feet. The background, filled with stylized hills and a sun, creates a sense of both earthly and heavenly presence. The print's small size and intricate detail make it a prime example of devotional art during the late Gothic period, often used for private meditation and reflection. The Minneapolis Institute of Art holds this unique piece of religious art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This metalcut of the Crucifixion depicts essential elements of the subject and has an approachable charm that would have made it a welcome aid to worship. Metalcuts were made by incising and punching designs into the surface of metal plates, which were then printed in relief like woodcuts. Here the punchwork seems much more refined than the cutting. The craftsman responsible for coloring the print omitted the red stroke of paint that should have given the angel hovering near the wound in Jesus’s right side a stream of blood to collect in its chalice.