Christ at the Marriage of Cana (Schr. 136a)

Art Historical Context

This delicate 15th-century woodcut, *Christ at the Marriage of (Schr. 136a)*, captures Jesus's first miracle from the Gospel of John, he transforms water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. Created anonymously by a German artist during the late Middle Ages, it reflects the era's deep devotion to biblical narratives, which were vital for teaching faith to the largely illiterate populace. The intimate scene likely shows Christ amid wedding guests—men and women gathered in celebration—emphasizing themes of abundance, divine intervention, and joy. As one of the earliest printed images, this hand-colored woodcut exemplifies the revolutionary printmaking techniques emerging in Germany around 1400. Woodcuts allowed for affordable reproduction of religious art, democratizing access beyond illuminated manuscripts. The hand-applied colors enhance its vibrancy, turning a simple black-line print into a personalized devotional object, possibly for private prayer or a prayer book. Measuring just 4 7/16 x 3 5/8 inches, its small scale suited portable piety. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the 1930 bequest of James Clark McGuire, this rare survivor highlights the fragility and cultural value of early prints, bridging Gothic artistry with the dawn of the print revolution.