Noli me Tangere

About this artwork

This prints by german artist Martin Schongauer exemplifies the artistic achievements of ca. 1470–74. The artist's work in engraving demonstrates the importance of printmaking as both an artistic medium and a means of disseminating images widely. Executed in engraving, this work demonstrates the sophisticated technical processes involved in printmaking. The medium required specialized knowledge of materials, tools, and procedures, including preparing plates or blocks, applying ink, and achieving ...

Art Historical Context

In the Drawings and Prints department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Martin Schongauer's *Noli me Tangere* (ca. 1470–74) stands as a pinnacle of early German engraving. This evocative print captures a sacred biblical encounter—likely the risen Christ speaking to the Virgin Mary amid symbols of the Cross—infused with spiritual depth and emotional resonance. As one of the era's leading artists, Schongauer exemplified the technical and aesthetic innovations of late 15th-century Germany, bridging medieval traditions with emerging Renaissance ideals. Crafted through the meticulous art of engra...

About the Artist

Martin Schongauer · 1435–1491

Martin Schongauer, born around 1450–1453 in Colmar, Alsace, emerged from a family of skilled artisans. The third of four or five sons of goldsmith Caspar Schongauer, who had relocated from Augsburg to Colmar around 1440, Martin was immersed in the goldsmith's trade from youth, likely receiving his initial training in his father's workshop—a common path for early engravers. He further honed his ski...