Artwork
Christ Ascending the Cross with Sin, Death, and the Devil
Christ Ascending the Cross with Sin, Death, and the Devil is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Augustin Hirschvogel. It dates from 1547 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
His path is blocked by three shadowy figures—Sin, Death, and the Devil—who try to stop him.
Augustin Hirschvogel shows Jesus carrying a heavy wooden cross up a steep hill. His path is blocked by three shadowy figures—Sin, Death, and the Devil—who try to stop him.
The scene feels dramatic yet controlled. Hirschvogel used etching, scratching fine lines onto a metal plate to print this image. The dark shadows contrast with Jesus’ calm face, making him stand out.
It’s like seeing a comic book page from 1547. Look for it at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
Created in 1547, this print by Augustin Hirschvogel combines etching with letterpress on laid paper. It depicts the moment of Christ’s ascent up the hill bearing the cross, confronted by three allegorical figures representing Sin, Death, and the Devil. The work belongs to the religious genre and is associated with the artistic milieu of mid‑16th‑century Bavaria and Austria.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on Jesus, his expression serene despite the burden of the wooden cross. Opposing him are three shadowy entities—Sin, Death, and the Devil—positioned to block his path, symbolizing the spiritual obstacles he must overcome on the way to crucifixion.
Technique & Style
Hirschvogel employed traditional copper‑plate etching, incising fine lines that produce a network of delicate hatching and deep shadows. The letterpress adds textual elements, while the contrast between dark, densely worked areas and the lighter figure of Christ creates a controlled dramatic effect characteristic of the Danube School’s printmaking.
History & Provenance
The print is part of Hirschvogel’s output as a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known for his contributions to early modern engraving. It is presently held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is catalogued among the museum’s 16th‑century European prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
