St. John the Baptist (copy) 1511 - 1600

This small woodcut of Saint John the Baptist was made by Hans Baldung in Germany around 1500. As a religious artwork, it reflects the intense spiritual environment of the Reformation. Prints like this were relatively cheap, and easily portable. They provided ordinary people with access to religious imagery, and the story of salvation, outside the control of the Church. In this copy of the original print, Saint John is identified by his halo, and by the Lamb of God at his feet, carrying a flag with a cross that refers to the crucifixion. Studying the prints and books that were available at the time, alongside the history of religious movements, we can learn more about the ways the people experienced these images and ideas. We come to understand the role of art in creating and challenging social norms.