Who painted The Crucifixion?

The Crucifixion was painted by German 15th Century in 1500.

Where can I see The Crucifixion?

The Crucifixion is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Crucifixion?

The Crucifixion is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Crucifixion

German 15th Century , 1500

The Crucifixion is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work is a hand‑colored woodcut fragment depicting the crucifixion of a naked figure on a cross, modestly draped with a small cloth. Beneath the cross stand two attendants: one clothed in blue and holding a staff, the other in green and orange, bearing a spear and a flag. The background consists of a plain yellow sky and a strip of green ground.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure represents the Christian narrative of the crucifixion, a focal point of devotion and theological reflection. The accompanying figures likely symbolize the Roman soldiers or witnesses, their staffs and weapons underscoring the violence of the event, while the flag may denote triumph over death, a common motif in devotional imagery.

Technique & Style

Carved from a wood block, the image was printed and subsequently colored by hand using blue, green, yellow, and brown pigments. The sharp, incised lines and flat areas of color are characteristic of early printmaking, allowing multiple reproductions while preserving a graphic clarity that emphasizes the starkness of the scene.

History & Provenance

The piece exists as a fragment, indicating it was once part of a larger composition or series. Its hand‑colored woodcut format places it within the tradition of early modern religious prints, which were widely circulated for private devotion and instruction. Specific details of its origin or ownership remain undocumented.