The Crucifixion c. 1480

Editor: Israhel van Meckenem’s "The Crucifixion," made around 1480, is currently at the Art Institute of Chicago. This engraving on paper depicts a truly terrible scene. It feels incredibly detailed, but also quite stark, capturing such raw human emotion… What can you tell me about the history and context of this artwork? Curator: What strikes me first is the density, like a medieval tapestry woven with dread. It's as though Meckenem wanted to capture every agonized detail, every flicker of cruelty, wouldn’t you agree? Forget divine serenity. Here, the artist engraves humanity at its absolute worst, yet somehow finds a strange beauty in that chaos. Did you notice how Christ, already wearing the crown of thorns, hasn't even been raised on the cross yet? The frenzy around him tells a chilling story... a story of profound cruelty and indifference. But in this rendering is also a reflection on the human condition; do you catch it? Editor: I do now that you mention it! I was so focused on the violence; I hadn't considered it that way. Is that intentional? Curator: Intention is always a delicious ghost to chase, isn't it? But maybe Meckenem wasn’t preaching; perhaps he was just holding a mirror up to his time. A mirror that, unsettlingly, reflects aspects of our own. Editor: That is a lot to consider. I think that makes this a piece I need to come back to! Thanks for your insight! Curator: Anytime! It’s in reflecting on the stories that images carry that art becomes truly alive.