Christ on the Cross 1511

Albrecht Durer made this woodcut depicting Christ on the Cross in Germany around the year 1511. The print, made with lines carved into a block, allowed for the wide distribution of images, thus impacting the social landscape of the time. As the Protestant Reformation gained momentum, woodcuts like this played a crucial role in disseminating religious ideas outside the control of the Catholic Church. Notice how Durer includes both the mourning figures of Mary Magdalene and other followers of Jesus on the left, as well as Roman soldiers on the right, thus inviting the viewer to identify with the emotional scene. The widespread availability of such images democratized art, challenging traditional hierarchies of access. To further understand the nuances of Durer’s imagery and its impact, scholars often turn to period pamphlets, religious tracts, and workshop records, all of which help us contextualize the social currents that shaped its creation.