Who painted The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus?

The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus was painted by Urs Graf the Elder in 1508.

Where can I see The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus?

The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus?

The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus

Urs Graf the Elder , 1508

The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus is a print by the Renaissance artist Urs Graf the Elder. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Raising of Lazarus is a 15th-century European woodcut depicting a pivotal biblical scene where Jesus resurrects Lazarus.

About this work

The painting shows a scene from the Bible where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
It's interesting because woodcuts like this were popular in Europe during the 15th century. They were often hand-colored with watercolor, which was a quicker process than printing with color.
This technique is similar to what you'd see if you looked up the work of artist Urs Graf the Elder.

Overview

The Raising of Lazarus is a 15th-century European woodcut depicting a pivotal biblical scene where Jesus resurrects Lazarus. Characterized by simple, crude yet effective design, it exemplifies the widespread, affordable devotional prints of its time.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut illustrates a dramatic moment from the Gospel narrative (John 11:1-44), where Jesus performs the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, symbolizing his divine power and presaging his own resurrection.

Technique & Style

Executed in woodcut, a technique burgeoning in 15th-century Europe, the piece features bold, black lines. Many such prints, including possibly this one, were enhanced post-printing with hand-applied watercolor, a cost-effective and quicker alternative to color printing.

History & Provenance

Created in the 1430s, a period when thousands of woodcuts flooded European markets, this print would have been sold at fairs, markets, or pilgrimage sites. Its specific provenance is not detailed here.

Context

Reflecting the transition from manuscript illumination, these early woodcuts catered to a broad audience seeking affordable religious imagery. Their simplicity and hand-coloring echo the artisanal practices of the time, similar to the works of contemporaries like Urs Graf the Elder.

Legacy

As part of the inaugural wave of European woodcuts, The Raising of Lazarus contributes to the understanding of early printmaking's role in disseminating religious themes to a wide, largely lay audience across 15th-century Europe.