The Raising of Lazarus c. 1507

Lucas van Leyden made this print, “The Raising of Lazarus,” using engraving techniques sometime in the early 16th century. The image portrays a miracle in the Christian gospels. The social meaning of this image would have been clear to its contemporary audience. This work was made in the Netherlands, a place and time defined by religious upheaval. Van Leyden was working right on the cusp of the Protestant Reformation, a radical challenge to the Catholic Church. The engraving shows a moment of awe and disbelief among the gathered crowd. The detailed rendering of the scene invites viewers to witness and contemplate the power of faith. Meanwhile, the placement of the figures and the composition of the landscape might invite us to consider class and social status. Are the figures in the trees observers or participants? As art historians, we can use historical records, religious texts, and contemporary accounts to understand the cultural and religious context. This helps us to comprehend how this print may have functioned as a tool for religious instruction and social commentary during a pivotal moment in European history.