The Angel with the Sudarium, executed by the master Albrecht Dürer in 1516, is a significant example of German Renaissance printmaking. This work utilizes the medium of etching, a technique Dürer helped to pioneer and popularize during his career. Created toward the end of his active printmaking phase, this sophisticated print reflects the intellectual style characteristic of Dürer's output during the period immediately preceding the Reformation.
The subject centers on a solitary, pensive angel holding the Sudarium, or Veil of Veronica, which traditionally bears the true image of Christ’s suffering face (Vera Icon). Dürer’s choice of etching for this piece allowed for a softness and spontaneity in line quality distinct from the rigidity often found in contemporary engraving. The delicate, etched lines and subtle tonal shifts render the angel's emotional state with great sensitivity and highlight the powerful, miraculous nature of the holy cloth it presents.
As one of the critical prints produced by the artist, this work illustrates Dürer's ongoing exploration of Christian iconography and the themes of suffering and redemption. Many of Dürer’s iconic prints from Germany, representing the height of the Northern Renaissance, have since entered the public domain, ensuring broad access for study and appreciation. This specific impression of The Angel with the Sudarium is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
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