Hand Cross

The hand wooden cross is six-pointed and is carved with a chisel using the flat carving technique. The compositional solution is simple and laconic, without scenes with many figures. On the front, the craftsman places the Crucifixion on the central stem. The figure of Christ, with arms outstretched and head tilted to the right shoulder, is flat and generalised. The background around the outline and relief of Jesus, which does not extend beyond the main surface of the work, is deepened. Above the Saviour is the inscription "INRI". At the ends of the upper frame are two waist-length standing figures with the shown details. The lower frame, separated from the main composition, creates a separate plane decorated with a "kryvulka" (curved) motif. On the back of the cross is a full-length figure of the Virgin Mary with the Child Christ wearing a crown. On either side of the Virgin, at the end of the upper frame, there is a contoured figure of a saint, carved using the technique of flat carving with small reproductions of details. The background of the reverse side of the hand-carved cross is decorated with a "kryvulka" (curved) motif that fills almost the entire area free of images. The border of the cross is smooth and follows the shape of the frames. The images' graphic, geometric and simplified nature indicates the authorship of a folk artist.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery