New Year's Card: Christ Child with the Cross 1485 - 1495

This anonymous 15th-century German woodcut depicts the Christ Child carrying the cross, an image that became popular during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The image is likely from a New Year's card, given its small size, and was intended for devotional use. The text at the bottom translates as "Much bigger is the burden," and likely serves as a reminder of the great weight of Christ's sacrifice. The simple lines and expressive figure are characteristic of German woodcut art of this period.