Christ on the Cross
15th century
Medium
Woodcut, hand-colored with illuminated border
Dimensions
8-19/32 x 5-27/32 in.; 15-5/8 x 11-1/8 in.
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.3.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This poignant 15th-century wood, *Christ on the Cross*, by an anonymous German artist from Basel, captures the solemnity of the Crucifixion—a central motif in Christian devotion during the Late Gothic period. Produced in an era when woodcuts revolutionized image-making, this print exemplifies early printmaking's role in making sacred art accessible to the faithful. Basel, a thriving hub for printing in the late 1400s, fostered such works, which were often pasted into prayer books or displayed in homes for private meditation. The artwork's modest dimensions (image: 8-19/32 x 5-27/32 in.; sheet...