Christ Child with an Apple 1470 - 1480

This sculpture of the Christ Child with an Apple was made in Southern Germany around 1500 by Michel Erhart. It’s limewood, carefully carved and then painted. Consider the qualities of wood. The artist would have selected a piece with a fine, even grain, allowing for the precise details of the face and hair. Limewood is relatively soft, so he could achieve a smooth, almost fleshy surface. The painting, too, is crucial. Notice the delicate blush on the cheeks, the careful rendering of the hair. This wasn't just carpentry; it was a highly skilled form of representation. The making of such a sculpture involved many hands, from the felling and seasoning of the timber to the mixing of pigments. The artist was the orchestrator of a small workshop, a master craftsman at the center of a network of labor and expertise. This reminds us that art-making is often a collaborative act, deeply embedded in its social context.