The Ascension 1456 - 1457

Johann Koerbecke’s The Ascension presents a vertically-oriented composition filled with hierarchically scaled figures rendered in oil. The eye is drawn to the chromatic intensity of the gold background, against which the figures, mainly clothed in red, blue, and green robes, are arranged in distinct tiers. This creates a visually arresting contrast, evoking a sense of the divine. Koerbecke’s treatment of space warrants closer inspection, as the composition employs a flattened perspective where depth is suggested, yet the figures appear compressed. Semiotically, the gold background signifies divinity, while the gestures and gazes of the figures direct the viewer’s eye, creating a visual narrative. The painting is less about illusionistic representation and more about conveying theological concepts through symbolic forms. Consider the role of verticality in the painting, for it's not merely a compositional choice. Rather, it's a deliberate structure that reinforces the spiritual hierarchy. The artist’s choice of flattening the pictorial space challenges our conventional understanding of perspective, inviting us to contemplate the deeper symbolic meanings embedded within this work.