Saint Christopher Facing Left (reverse copy) 1485 - 1528

Albrecht Durer created this engraving of Saint Christopher in Germany in 1521. At the time, the cult of Saints was central to religious life, and images of Saints were thought to have special protective powers. Here, Christopher is shown carrying the Christ child across a body of water. Depicting the Saints as strong and capable figures resonated with the values of the emerging merchant class in Northern Europe. The detailed rendering of Christopher's musculature and the landscape reflects the influence of Italian Renaissance art on Durer's work. Consider the visual codes Durer employed: the radiant halo around the Christ child signifies divinity, while Christopher's staff represents his pilgrimage and devotion. The date inscribed on the stone connects the image to the specific historical moment of its creation. To fully appreciate this work, we can consult sources such as period religious texts, social histories of the Reformation, and the artist's own writings. Examining this print within its original social and institutional context allows us to grasp the full scope of its meaning.