The Ascension of Christ c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Altdorfer's "The Ascension of Christ," a small woodcut. The upward gaze of the figures below contrasts so strikingly with the geometric abstraction of the divine realm above. What do you make of that contrast, Professor? Curator: It's fascinating how Altdorfer employs the woodcut medium. Notice the labor involved in carving those intricate lines, the social context of printmaking as a means of disseminating religious ideas. The material process itself becomes a form of devotion. Editor: So, the physical act of creating the print mirrors the spiritual act of ascension? Curator: Precisely. And consider the consumption of these prints; each image, a commodity carrying immense cultural weight. Food for thought, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely. It's amazing how much material analysis can reveal.