Christ Carrying the Cross c. 1480

This anonymous "Christ Carrying the Cross" from c. 1480 is a striking example of an early woodcut, a printing technique that used carved woodblocks to transfer images onto paper. The artwork is rendered in shades of brown and black, with intricate details that are visible even despite the image's condition. While the image is faded and much of the detail is lost, the repetitive, somewhat abstract patterns are suggestive of the rich, symbolic and emotive style of Medieval religious art.