Artwork
Christ before Annas
Christ before Annas is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Israhel van Meckenem. It dates from 1480 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The artist, Israhel van Meckenem, copied many scenes like this from other artists.
A man in a red robe stands before a seated judge. Soldiers and onlookers crowd a dim room. One officer grabs the man’s arm. His face is calm but tired.
This scene shows Jesus questioned by Annas, a high priest. It’s not a painting but an engraving, made by scratching lines into metal. The artist, Israhel van Meckenem, copied many scenes like this from other artists. He worked in Germany around 1480. Fine cross-hatching adds shadow and depth to the clothes and faces.
Look up the technique: engraving, cross-hatching.
Overview
Christ before Annas is an engraving created by Israhel van Meckenem, a German artist, around 1480. It is one of over 620 prints produced by Meckenem during his career.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a biblical scene: Jesus being questioned by Annas, a high priest, in a crowded and dimly lit room. The calm yet tired expression on Jesus' face contrasts with the surrounding turmoil.
Technique & Style
The print was made using the engraving technique, where lines are scratched into a metal plate to create the image. Fine cross-hatching, achieved by layering closely spaced lines at different angles, adds depth and shading to the figures' clothing and faces.
History & Provenance
Israhel van Meckenem was active from 1465 to 1503 and is considered one of the most prolific engravers of the 15th century. Many of his works, including Christ before Annas, were adaptations of existing compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
