Artwork

The Fall and Redemption of Man: The Message of the Angel to Joachim

The Fall and Redemption of Man: The Message of the Angel to Joachim is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Altdorfer carved this image as part of a set of forty woodcuts about Christian redemption.

The woodcut shows an angel flying over a kneeling man in a German forest. The angel holds a scroll with a message. Trees fill the background, their trunks dark and sharp.

Altdorfer carved this image as part of a set of forty woodcuts about Christian redemption. The prints were made from eight woodblocks, each sheet holding four images. They were later cut into single prints.

This quiet scene shows how woodcuts could tell big stories. Look up Albrecht Altdorfer (German, c. 1480–1538) to see more of his work.

Overview

The Fall and Redemption of Man: The Message of the Angel to Joachim is a woodcut by Albrecht Altdorfer, part of a 40-image series illustrating Christian redemption from the Fall to the Last Judgement.

Subject & Meaning

This specific woodcut depicts an angel delivering a message to the kneeling Joachim, set amidst a detailed German forest backdrop. The scene conveys a pivotal moment in the narrative of Christian salvation.

Technique & Style

Notably larger than contemporaneous miniature woodcuts, this work showcases Altdorfer's technical prowess in achieving fine detail through woodcut, a medium less conducive to precision than engraving.

History & Provenance

Originally printed on sheets with eight images, the museum's set preserves four per page due to only being halved. The series predates Hans Holbein's Dance of Death (c. 1526) and postdates Albrecht Dürer's influence, potentially from his Small Passion (1511).

Context

Created around 1513, this woodcut reflects Altdorfer's experience with detailed engravings, adapting his skill to the challenges of woodcutting for a broader, narrative-driven project.

Artist & collection

Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…