The Circumcision 1498 - 1531

Hans Burgkmair created this pen and brown ink drawing, "The Circumcision," sometime between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Burgkmair was working during a period of great religious and social upheaval, and the Reformation would have had a profound effect on artists as the role of religious art was hotly debated. Here, Burgkmair depicts the circumcision of Jesus, an event laden with cultural and religious meaning. In Jewish tradition, circumcision is a rite of passage, symbolizing identity and belonging. This work exists within a longer history of religious and political negotiations between Christian and Jewish identities, and it reflects the complex power dynamics that shaped religious practices and artistic representations. Consider how Burgkmair's own identity and beliefs might have influenced his portrayal of this intimate and culturally charged ceremony. It is interesting to consider how the artist uses his composition to highlight and even question societal issues related to faith, tradition, and belonging.