1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ Crowned with Thorns is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a chaotic scene of robed men roughly handling a central figure slumped on the ground. Thorns are being forced onto his head, and his arms are twisted behind his back. The background is dark, with a rocky hill and a few small figures watching from a distance. The lines are sharp and detailed, creating a sense of movement and struggle. The artist used a technique where the image is carved into wood, then inked and pressed onto paper. This method creates strong contrasts between light and dark areas. Look up woodcut to see how this printmaking process works.
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
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