St. Sebastian Bound to a Tree 1514

This is Hans Baldung’s “St. Sebastian Bound to a Tree”, made from woodcut on paper. Think for a moment about the labor involved here. Not only the artist’s work in designing and cutting the block, but also the preparation of the wood itself, its grain running parallel to the surface to allow for crisp lines and details. The image is rendered in stark black and white, achieved by painstakingly carving away the negative space around the lines, which would then be inked and printed. Look closely at the varying thickness and density of these lines, which create a dramatic sense of light and shadow. The process leaves a distinct impression of the artist’s hand, not unlike the work of a sculptor or a silversmith. The stark physicality of the image—the wood, the cut, the print—underscores the grim subject matter. It is a reminder that even in the realm of fine art, material and making are inextricably linked to meaning, and to the wider world of human endeavor.