The Resurrection, from The Passion 1472 - 1553

Lucas Cranach the Elder made this woodcut print, The Resurrection, as part of a series called The Passion. This image invites us to reflect on the role of art during the Reformation. Made in Germany, it coincided with a period of religious and social upheaval, questioning the authority of the Catholic Church. The print depicts the moment Jesus rises from the tomb, while the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb are scattered. The fine lines create texture and depth. Cranach was court painter to the Electors of Saxony, key supporters of Martin Luther. Woodcuts like this one were relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute and were essential to disseminating the reformer’s ideas. Religious art was no longer confined to the Church; it had a new public role. Historians consider this period using a wide range of resources, from theological tracts to political pamphlets, in addition to art like this, to better understand the complex interplay of religion, politics, and culture.