Christ Carrying the Cross

Christ Carrying the Cross

Martin Schongauer

1470

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a crowded scene of people surrounding a man carrying a large cross. The man is at the center, wearing a long robe and a crown of thorns, with his head bowed in exhaustion. He is being pulled and pushed by several men, while others in the background look on or try to intervene. In the foreground, a dog is shown running away from the scene, adding to the sense of chaos and turmoil. The engraving is done in great detail, with intricate lines and textures that give the image a sense of depth and realism. The artist's use of cross-hatching techniques creates a sense of shading and volume, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figure of Christ. For more on this technique, look up "engraving".

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