Christ Carrying the Cross 1720 - 1761

Johann Wolfgang Baumgartner created this drawing, “Christ Carrying the Cross,” sometime in the mid-18th century using pen, brush and gray ink, with gray wash and white gouache. Baumgartner situates us within a pivotal moment in Christian history, one laden with themes of suffering, sacrifice, and redemption. He was working in a period still dominated by the church. Look closely at how the composition invites contemplation on the themes of power, justice, and empathy, and how this narrative has been used to create an understanding of the world. In the drawing the figures around Christ, rendered in muted tones, seem to represent a cross-section of society, each bearing witness to this event. The emotional weight is palpable. The scene raises important questions about the dynamics between the powerful and the powerless. Ultimately, Baumgartner’s drawing serves as a poignant reflection on human morality, inviting us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves.