The Sixth Day of Creation (recto) 1493

This is Michael Wolgemut’s woodcut, "The Sixth Day of Creation," made around 1493, showing the biblical creation of Adam. As a woodcut, this work was made by carving away the negative space around the lines of the image, leaving a raised surface to take the ink. Then, the block was pressed onto paper. The process leaves a distinctive, slightly rough texture, and a graphic contrast between black and white. Consider the labor involved: from felling the tree, to sawing and preparing the block, to the highly skilled work of carving the intricate design. In Wolgemut’s time, printmaking was becoming increasingly important for disseminating information and ideas. It democratized images, making them available to a wider audience than ever before. This particular print, which appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, would have brought the story of Genesis to life for a readership eager to understand their place in the world. It is a reminder that even seemingly simple images are the result of complex material processes and social contexts.