Sudarium Spread Out by an Angel

Sudarium Spread Out by an Angel is a powerful etching created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, in 1516. This highly detailed print, executed in black ink on ivory laid paper, showcases the artist's mature skill and experimental use of etching as a relatively new printmaking technique in Germany. The subject centers on the sudarium, the legendary Veil of Veronica, believed to bear the miraculous imprint of Christ’s face.

The composition utilizes stark contrast and intense focus, common in Dürer’s devotional works. A single, muscular angel is depicted holding the draped cloth tautly against a dark, featureless background, presenting the iconic image directly to the viewer. The features of Christ, rendered solely through the markings on the fabric, dominate the upper portion of the work, emphasizing the emotional weight and spiritual intensity of the relic. This mastery of line and shadow solidified Dürer's reputation as the preeminent graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance.

Though Dürer (1471-1528) is often better known for his copperplate engravings, this etching represents his continued innovation in print production. The resulting prints, highly valued for their clarity and technical precision, contributed significantly to the dissemination of religious imagery across Europe. This compelling example of Dürer’s late work is held in the extensive collection of European prints at the Art Institute of Chicago. Like many works of this period, the imagery is frequently available through public domain archives for study and appreciation.