The Carrying of the Cross
1450
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1450
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Carrying of the Cross is a 1450 ink by Ludwig of Ulm, depicting christ carrying the cross, held at National Gallery of Art.
This dark woodcut shows Jesus stumbling under the weight of the cross. Thick lines carve shadows into the scene. You can feel the crowd’s push. Mary faints in the corner, her face a mask of grief. Woodcuts like this were printed on paper from carved blocks. They were cheap and quick, so lots of people saw them. This one’s hand-colored in faded reds and blues. Look up how woodcut prints work next.
