St. Christopher Crossing the Stream
1528
Albrecht Dürer brings the legend of St. Christopher to life with incredible muscular detail in this striking print. The giant saint wades through a river, looking up at the Christ child perched on his shoulders, who holds a globe topped with a cross—literally carrying the weight of the world. You can see a tiny hermit in the background holding a lantern, referencing the story where Christopher was told to ferry travelers across a dangerous stream. The way Dürer uses bold, dark lines to show the tension in the saint's legs and back makes you feel the heavy burden of the journey.
- Technique
- Woodcut
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