Christ on the Cross with a Grape Vine

Art Historical Context

This intimate woodcut from around 1490–1500 captures Christ on the Cross entwined with a grape vine, a powerful symbol linking the crucifixion to the Eucharist and the promise of redemption. Created by an anonymous French or Netherlandish artist, the print measures just 11.5 by 8.5 centimeters, suggesting it was designed for personal devotion rather than public display. The woodcut technique, one of the earliest forms of printmaking, allowed religious images like this to reach a broader audience during the late Middle Ages, when literacy was limited and visual storytelling played a central rol...