Bearing of the Cross, from The Engraved Passion

Bearing of the Cross, from The Engraved Passion is a powerful image created by the celebrated German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) in 1512. This highly detailed work is an engraving in black on ivory laid paper. Dürer’s unparalleled skill with the burin is evident in the precise linework and dramatic tonal shifts, demonstrating the technical maturity of the artist at the height of the Northern Renaissance. The print is part of Dürer’s influential Engraved Passion, a key series of fifteen copperplate prints illustrating the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, distinct from his earlier, larger woodcut series on the same subject.

The scene depicts Christ struggling under the enormous weight of the cross on the arduous road to Calvary, surrounded by Roman soldiers and mocking onlookers who press close to the central figures. Dürer focuses intently on the physical and emotional distress of Jesus, contrasting his suffering with the brutality and indifference of the crowd. The artist incorporates complex groupings of figures and architectural elements-particularly the gate visible in the background-to intensify the narrative and create a sense of claustrophobic movement within the small format of the engraving.

Produced in Germany, the exceptional quality and reproducibility of these prints ensured their widespread dissemination, deeply influencing religious art and devotional practices across Europe. The detailed handling of the composition made works by Dürer highly prized by contemporary collectors and subsequent generations. Today, this masterful impression resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Prints of this complexity and historical significance, created by Dürer in 1512, are fundamental documents of the Northern Renaissance, often made accessible for scholarly research through public domain resources.