Kreuztragung (Christ Carrying the Cross) 1916

Otto Lange created this woodcut, "Christ Carrying the Cross," sometime in the early twentieth century. Lange was associated with the German Expressionist movement, and his work frequently explored themes of religious and social turmoil. Here, the artist subverts traditional religious iconography to portray intense suffering and dehumanization. Christ is depicted not as a divine figure but as a man overwhelmed by tormentors, as the traditional narrative becomes a lens through which to examine human cruelty. The stark color palette and angular forms evoke the emotional intensity of the scene, a visual representation of pain. Lange lived through the rise of Nazism, facing persecution for his artistic expression, which was deemed degenerate by the regime. This work encapsulates a sense of anguish reflecting both personal and collective suffering, prompting us to reflect on the human capacity for both brutality and compassion.