Kruisdraging, Veronica met de zweetdoek, Kruisoprichting, Kruisiging 1509 - 1510

Albrecht Durer created this ink drawing of the Crucifixion and other religious scenes in the 1500s. This work reflects the intense religious and social environment of Europe during the Reformation. Durer, a Northerner, was working during a time when the Catholic Church's authority was being questioned. The themes in this series of images were influenced by the reformation. The crucifixion had become a highly contested topic in art, split between conservative iconic representation and progressive humanistic interpretation. He had ties to humanists, but he also had deep ties to traditional religion. His decision to return to religious subjects after 1520 may reflect his own spiritual journey or be a response to the social and political upheavals of the time. To understand Durer's work fully, we need to explore the religious texts, theological debates, and the social and political events that shaped his world. The study of such cultural and institutional contexts allows us to appreciate the enduring power and relevance of artworks like this.