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Christ on the Cross

Jacobus Neeffs

1650

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

Christ on the Cross is a 1650 ink by Jacobus Neeffs, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacobus Neeffs
When & what style?: 1650 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a man nailed to a cross, surrounded by a crowd. Soldiers in armor stand nearby, some holding spears. Two women kneel or stand close to the cross, looking up at him. The sky is dark and stormy, with a moon visible in the distance. The man on the cross wears a crown of thorns and has his arms stretched out. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures, making the scene look dramatic. This kind of detailed line work is called engraving. Look up engraving to see how artists create images like this.