Artwork

The Head of Christ

The Head of Christ, by German 15th Century, ink
The Head of Christ, by German 15th Century, ink

The Head of Christ is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Head of Christ is a black-and-white woodcut print depicting the face of Jesus Christ. The image is framed by decorative patterns and features a halo above the head.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows Christ's face with calm, large eyes, and swirling hair and beard rendered in sharp lines and shadows, evoking a sense of intensity. The halo and serene expression convey a devotional subject.

Technique & Style

The image was created using the woodcut technique, where the design is carved into wood and then inked to produce multiple copies. The style is characterized by bold lines, contrasting shadows, and decorative framing elements.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.