The Last Judgment by Stefan Lochner, painted circa 1435 in oil and gold on oak panel, depicts the Christian theme of the final judgment of souls. The composition is dominated by the figure of Christ enthroned at the center, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, with angels and saints surrounding them. The work belongs to the late Gothic period in Cologne, a time when Lochner was recognized as one of the leading painters in the city. The central figure of Christ, clad in red and radiating golden rays, presides over the separation of the blessed and the damned.

On the left, the blessed are led by angels into a gothic church, while on the right, the damned are driven by demons toward a fiery hell. The lower half of the panel is crowded with resurrected souls, depicted with varied expressions and gestures, rendered in pale flesh tones against a richly gilded background. The use of gold leaf emphasizes the divine realm, while the detailed depiction of figures and architecture reflects Lochner’s meticulous technique. This panel is held in the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud in Cologne.

While specific details of its original commission are not documented, The Last Judgment is considered a significant example of religious art from mid-15th-century Cologne and is closely associated with Lochner’s mature period. The painting has been recognized for its detailed narrative and its synthesis of local Gothic traditions with influences from Netherlandish painting.