St. Christopher Facing to the Left

St. Christopher Facing to the Left is a powerful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, in 1521. This masterful German print, executed in black ink on ivory laid paper, demonstrates Dürer’s unparalleled skill in the burin technique, a hallmark of the Northern Renaissance. The composition focuses on the legendary saint, traditionally the patron of travelers, engaged in the arduous task of crossing the water while carrying the Christ Child on his shoulder.

Produced toward the end of his career, this work showcases Dürer's mature style, characterized by dense cross-hatching to achieve deep tonal contrasts and monumental figures within a small format. The figure of St. Christopher is depicted as heavily muscled, leaning against his staff as he struggles with the increasing weight of the infant. The intensity and detailed execution seen in this piece reflect Dürer’s ongoing refinement of the engraving medium, maintaining the strong outline and expressive detail found in his earlier work.

The religious subject matter and technical brilliance of these prints made them highly popular devotional objects throughout Germany and the rest of Europe in the early 16th century, establishing Dürer as the preeminent master of graphic arts. His influence on printmaking techniques was profound, elevating the classification of the medium far beyond simple illustration. This specific example resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant and widely reproduced work from the German Renaissance, versions of this seminal image are frequently available in the public domain for study and appreciation.