The Passion; The Lamentation

Lucas Cranach the Elder

1509

The Passion; The Lamentation by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1509

Lucas Cranach the Elder captured the raw grief of the Lamentation in this striking 1509 woodcut, where mourners crowd around the lifeless body of Christ with intense, almost theatrical expressions. Notice the two coats of arms floating in the clouds at the top left—these likely belong to the noble patrons who commissioned this piece, a common way for wealthy families to immortalize themselves alongside holy scenes. As a close friend of Martin Luther and a master of the Northern Renaissance, Cranach blended meticulous line work with deep emotional storytelling that made religious scenes feel immediate and human.

Technique
Woodcut
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