Crucifixion (round) 1517 - 1520

Albrecht Dürer made this tiny, round Crucifixion in the late 15th or early 16th century, using the technique of engraving. This print on paper shows the artist's refined skill as a draughtsman, as he used a tool called a burin to carve fine lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. Note how the material qualities of the engraving medium - its capacity for precise detail and tonal variation - are used here to great effect. Consider the social context: printmaking was on the rise during this period. Dürer's work made art more accessible, breaking down the traditional boundaries between the unique artwork and the multiple. The relatively small scale of the work also suggests a more intimate, portable kind of devotional object. Ultimately, by understanding the materials, process and context of Dürer's Crucifixion, we can move beyond conventional definitions of fine art and consider the important role of craft in shaping artistic expression.