Crucifixion, from the Small Woodcut Passion 1509 - 1510

This is Albrecht Durer’s ‘Crucifixion, from the Small Woodcut Passion,’ made in the early 16th century. It’s a woodcut, which is a relief printing process. The artist carves away the areas that will not be inked, leaving the design raised on the block. Here, Durer incised his image into a block of wood, likely using specialized knives and gouges. The fine, closely-spaced lines create a sense of depth and shadow, particularly noticeable in Christ's tormented body and the anguished faces of the onlookers. The process involves labor, skill, and time. Each print pulled from the block would have been part of a larger project of disseminating images and ideas. Woodcuts like this were relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute. They made art accessible to a wider audience than paintings or sculptures could, in a way democratizing religious imagery. Considering the material and process, it is clear that Durer's woodcut is more than just a religious image; it's a product of craft, labor, and a changing world of art production.