Christ bearing the Cross
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic scene of people struggling with a shirtless man carrying a heavy wooden cross. Around him, soldiers in armor push and pull, while a bearded man kneels in prayer. The background is dark and crowded, with more figures watching from the shadows. The artist used deep contrasts between light and dark to make the figures stand out sharply. This technique draws your eye to the central struggle. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
