Is Christ Child under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

What is the thematic context of Christ Child?

late gothic devotional, northern renaissance piety, biblical innocence theme, humanization of christ, nunneries' sacred object, stoss's emotive carving, eucharistic symbolism, iconic infant figure

Christ ChildWit Stwosz · 1525

Late Gothic & Northern Renaissance
1525

Wit Stwosz (1447 – 1533)

Explore the masterful wood sculptures of Wit Stwosz (Veit Stoß)! Late Gothic & Northern Renaissance art, known for emotive carvings like Kraków's altar. #WitStwosz #Sculpture

In the Late Middle Ages, naked and freestanding figures of the Christ Child were extremely popular, especially in nunneries. At first glance these somewhat stocky little boys, who have their fair share of baby fat, are affecting, even cheerful. Frequently the Christ Child was shown holding an orb and raising a hand in blessing, or with some symbolic object suggestive of the Eucharist – in the case of the Berlin Jesus, however, these attributes have been lost. Sculptures of this kind were meant to underline the humanity of Christ, and thus the mystery of God incarnate. The freestanding posture, which is hardly appropriate for an infant of such an age, thereby is bound to the core message: a statue of an infant too small to stand causes confusion in the beholder, which serves to articulate once more the miracle of Christ’s incarnation in human form. The miniature format of the Berlin infant suggests that the work originally served as an individual’s object of private devotion.

About this artwork

Title: Christ Child
Artist: Wit Stwosz
Year: 1525
Format: Portrait
Copyright status: Public domain
Keywords: veit stoss sculpture, emotion sculpture art, medieval sculpture
Color hue: Golden Yellow Range
Color intensity: Monochromatic
Perceived brightness: deep_shadow
Topics: medieval christ child, sacred sculpture art, religious iconography

Questions & Answers

Is "Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz a light or a dark artwork?

"Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz is recorded as deep_shadow, with a dark luminance.

When was "Christ Child" created, and to which movement does it belong?

"Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz is dated 1525 and belongs to Late Gothic & Northern Renaissance.

Who is the artist behind "Christ Child"?

"Christ Child" was created by Wit Stwosz. The information on this page describes Wit Stwosz's original work.

Do the colors of "Christ Child" appear strong or soft?

The colors in "Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz have a monochromatic intensity.

What was Wit Stwosz's age when "Christ Child" was created?

Wit Stwosz made "Christ Child" at the age of 78. The artist was born in 1447 and the work is dated 1525.

Can the image of "Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz be freely reproduced?

"Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This status governs how the image of the work may be reproduced.

In what year was "Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz created?

The creation of "Christ Child" by Wit Stwosz is dated 1525.