The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion is a powerful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This sophisticated print is a prime example of the German High Renaissance master’s technical genius in utilizing the burin to achieve astounding levels of detail and tonal complexity. As a central figure of the early 16th-century artistic movement in Germany, Dürer transformed the status of prints from mere illustrations into highly collectible fine art objects. The year 1511 marks a period of immense productivity for the artist, during which he was completing several major print series, solidifying his reputation across Europe.

This engraving presents the traditional Christian subject with characteristic intensity. Dürer’s approach is marked by meticulous attention to detail, utilizing dense line work and dramatic contrast to generate a scene that is both formally balanced and emotionally charged, a hallmark of German Renaissance art. The work focuses intensely on the moment of sacrifice, often featuring a crowded and expressive grouping of figures surrounding the cross, typical of narrative religious prints from this era in Germany.

The classification of the work as a print allowed the artist to widely disseminate his theological and artistic ideas, contributing significantly to his fame far beyond his home city of Nuremberg. Today, high-quality images of Dürer’s important prints, including this interpretation of the Passion, are highly valued in collections worldwide, with some impressions now categorized as public domain material. This fine impression of The Crucifixion is housed in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.