Christ Carrying the Cross 1547

"Christ Carrying the Cross" is an etching created by the German artist Augustin Hirschvogel in 1547. The scene depicts the moment when Jesus, carrying his cross, stumbles and falls on his way to Calvary. The composition is filled with figures, including soldiers on horseback, onlookers, and the grieving Virgin Mary. Hirschvogel uses detailed and expressive lines to capture the drama and solemnity of the event. This print, part of a series of engravings depicting the Passion of Christ, reflects the religious fervor of the Reformation era and the growing popularity of printmaking as a means of disseminating religious imagery.