Artwork

The Resurrection and the Holy Women on Their Way to Christ's Sepulchre

The Resurrection and the Holy Women on Their Way to Christ's Sepulchre is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Resurrection and the Holy Women on Their Way to Christ's Sepulchre is a 1514 woodcut on laid paper by Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen, a prominent artist in early 16th-century Amsterdam.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut depicts a biblical scene: three women approach Christ's tomb, from which he is rising. The image is crowded with figures, conveying a sense of event and reaction.

Technique & Style

Using only black lines and shading, the artist achieves depth and detail, particularly in clothing and landscape. The print's texture and the visibility of the paper's laid pattern indicate its age and technique.

History & Provenance

Created in 1514, this work is an example of van Oostsanen's contribution to Amsterdam's emerging art scene, as one of the city's first significant artists.

Context

As a woodcut, this print reflects a pre-photographic method of image production, characteristic of the period.