Descent into Limbo c. 1490

This woodcut with added hand-colouring, known as Descent into Limbo, was created by an anonymous artist during the medieval period. It visualises a key moment in Christian theology: Christ's triumphant journey into Hell after the Crucifixion, to liberate deserving souls. Here, Jesus, haloed and carrying a banner of victory, pulls Adam from the clutches of a blue-skinned demon. Eve and other righteous figures look on in hope. This image speaks to the medieval Church's power to mediate salvation. The architecture, clothing, and even the demons reflect the cultural context in which it was made. The artist’s choices about whom to include, and how to portray them, reflect the social hierarchies and religious beliefs of the time. By studying medieval sermons, theological treatises, and even popular plays, we can gain a deeper understanding of how this image functioned within its original cultural landscape. The meaning of art is never fixed, but always contingent on its social and institutional context.