Kruisdraging 1618

Nicolaes de Bruyn’s “Kruisdraging” (1618) depicts the carrying of the cross, one of the most iconic scenes from the Passion of Christ. The etching portrays Jesus, burdened by the weight of the cross, with the help of two Roman soldiers. The scene is framed by a crowd of onlookers, emphasizing the somber and dramatic nature of the event. The detail in the figures, the landscape with a distant cityscape, and the overall composition convey the artist’s mastery of the art of etching, a technique that was highly popular during the 17th century.