Open full image Pin

Christ Carrying the Cross

German 15th Century

1438

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Christ Carrying the Cross is a 1438 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 15th Century
When & what style?: 1438 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows two figures walking side by side. The person on the left wears a red robe with a yellow sash, and the one on the right has a tall, yellow hat with a green and red face. The background is mostly green, with simple shapes for trees or bushes. The artist used a woodcut technique, where the image was carved into wood and then colored by hand. This method was common in the 15th century and made it easier to print multiple copies. If you like this style, look up woodcut to see how artists created prints before photography.