Christ on the Cross (The Small Crucifixion) 1500 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer created this miniature etching of "Christ on the Cross" sometime in the early 16th century. The image depicts the crucified Christ, flanked by mourning figures and hovering angels. This print comes out of the highly charged atmosphere of Reformation-era Germany. The visual codes of Christian iconography are all here, but consider what it meant to produce and circulate images like this at a time when religious authority was being challenged and reformed. Altdorfer’s work was made in a context of iconoclasm and censorship, where the very act of representing religious subjects could be seen as politically charged. Was he reaffirming traditional beliefs, or subtly questioning them? Understanding this work requires us to consider its historical moment. By exploring sources such as religious pamphlets, artists' biographies, and records of the print market, we can begin to understand the complex social forces that shaped its creation and reception.