The Crucifixion
1498
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
Artist
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
See the richer artist page1498
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Crucifixion is a 1498 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a crowded scene of a man nailed to a cross with a dark sky behind him. Around him, a mix of people—some kneeling, some standing—watch or react. Angels with wings hover above, and the ground is packed with small figures, animals, and odd shapes. The lines are sharp, and the whole image feels busy and dramatic. Notice how the artist used deep shadows and strong contrasts to make the figures stand out. The cross is the center, but the crowd around it feels alive with emotion. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
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