The Crucifixion c. 1480

Israhel van Meckenem created "The Crucifixion," a detailed engraving, sometime before his death in 1503. The composition, a tapestry of closely packed figures, draws our eye across the scene of Christ’s crucifixion. Van Meckenem uses line to construct form and convey texture, creating a rich visual field. The density of marks varies, with shadow achieved through hatching, and the figures modeled using closely spaced, curved lines. Through tonal variation, the artist creates a sense of depth, positioning the viewer in the immediate foreground. The engraving reveals a dense visual landscape, full of action and emotion. Van Meckenem’s “Crucifixion” becomes a powerful meditation on suffering, death, and the spectacle of public execution. The image is not just a religious scene, but also a reflection on the structural violence of its time.