1516
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Christopher Seated by a River Bank is a 1516 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a busy scene carved into wood. A giant man kneels by a river, holding a tall staff. Around him, a crowd of people—some standing, some kneeling—seems to be waiting or praying. The riverbank is packed with trees and rocky ground, and the sky above looks stormy. Notice how the artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to make everything look solid and dramatic. The woodcut technique lets the light and dark areas pop strongly. Check out more about woodcut to see how this printing method 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…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
