Artwork

The Resurrection

The Resurrection, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470
The Resurrection, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470

The Resurrection is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The work titled *The Resurrection* is a hand‑colored metalcut print. Executed in bold black lines and vivid pigments of green, red lake, and yellow, the image presents a stark, blocky composition that emphasizes stark contrasts and dramatic coloration.

Subject & Meaning

At the center stands a skeletal figure clutching a staff and a cross, evoking the resurrected Christ in a stark, allegorical form. Surrounding bodies, bound in yellow ropes or chains, suggest the defeat of death and the liberation of souls, a visual sermon for viewers unable to read textual doctrine.

Technique & Style

The artist employed the metalcut process, incising designs into a metal plate to produce multiple impressions. After printing, the image was hand‑applied with bright pigments, creating a chiaroscuro effect where deep black outlines juxtapose with luminous color fields, heightening the scene’s dramatic tension.

Context

Metalcut prints served as affordable devotional images in the early modern period, allowing churches and households to disseminate biblical narratives widely. The vivid coloration and stark iconography reflect a didactic intent, aligning with contemporary practices of visual catechesis for an illiterate audience.

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.