De Heilige Christoffel draagt het Christuskind 1503

Albrecht Dürer created this woodcut, Saint Christopher Carrying the Christ Child, using stark black lines on a pale ground. The composition is dominated by the monumental figure of Saint Christopher, wading through water, his body forming a diagonal thrust. Look closely at how Dürer uses line to articulate form and space. Notice the density of lines that create shadow and volume on Christopher’s robes, contrasted with the sparser lines suggesting the landscape. The figure of Christ, though small, is a focal point with radiating lines emphasizing his divine light. The image resonates with the philosophical concept of "bearing witness." Christopher, whose name means "Christ-bearer," physically embodies this idea, but Dürer’s use of contrasting tones and directional lines guides our eyes, prompting us to reflect on the weight and responsibility of faith. The woodcut invites ongoing interpretation, asking us to consider how we, too, carry the weight of belief in our own lives.