The Resurrection, from The Passion

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of late 15th-century German printmaking with Martin Schongauer'sThe Resurrection, from The Passion*, created around 1470–75. Schongauer, a pioneeringaver from Colmar (modern-day France), was a master the Northern Renaissance, blending late Gothic detail with emerging Renaissance naturalism. This small engraving (16.4 × 11.7 cm) captures a pivotal moment in Christian theology: Christ's triumphant emergence from the tomb, surrounded by slumbering guards and divine light—a scene meant to inspire devotion during the Passion cycle, a popular series depicting Christ's suffering and redemption. Engraving on paper was revolutionary in Schongauer's era, allowing artists to produce multiple impressions from a single copper plate incised with fine burin lines. His technique shines in the delicate cross-hatching for shadows, textured drapery, and dramatic contrasts, making complex compositions accessible to a broader audience beyond wealthy patrons. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this work exemplifies how prints democratized religious art, influencing later masters like Albrecht Dürer. Schongauer's engravings were collector's items, prized for their precision and emotional depth, reflecting the era's fervent piety amid the lead-up to the Reformation. Gaze closely at the trimmed sheet to appreciate its intimate scale—perfect for personal prayer books or altarpieces.

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...