Artwork
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ on the Cross is a 1505 woodcut by Hans Baldung Grien, exemplifying the artist's style and the characteristics of printmaking during the German Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The woodcut depicts Christ crucified, with a serene yet sorrowful expression, and a muscular physique. A sign above his head bears the inscription 'INRI'. The simple cross and faintly suggested landscape background focus attention on Christ's figure.
Technique & Style
The woodcut showcases bold contrasts and detailed rendering, reflecting Baldung Grien's training under Albrecht Dürer and his own expressive style. The visible wood grain on the cross and the defined musculature of Christ's body demonstrate the artist's skill in exploiting the medium's possibilities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross
Christ on the Cross with Mary, St. John, Mary Magdalen and St. Stephen
Christ on the Cross Between the Virgin and Saint John