Albrecht Durer's St. Christopher Facing Left

Albrecht Durer was a German painter born on May 21, 1471, and died on April 6, 1528. Not only was Durer a painter, he was an engraver, printmaker, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. Durer would make high-quality woodcuts that eventually advanced his career and influence across the European world. This was all done in his twenties! He was even considered the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance. Durer’s work mostly revolves around altarpieces, religious works, portraits, self-portraits, and copper engravings. Durer’s piece, St. Christopher, is on of his unique creations. There are a few different versions of this certain piece, but I have chosen St. Christopher Facing Left, 1521. This version of St. Christopher was one of Durer’s engraved pieces of art. He uses horizontal lines in the landscape and the river, but contrasts it with vertical lines in the bodies of Saint Christopher and the Christ child. It was completed in the year 1521, seven years before his death. …show more content…
Christopher Facing Left is that Saint Christopher is crossing the river carrying the Christ child on his shoulders. As the Saint Christopher goes on, the child becomes heavier and heavier. This causes Saint Christopher trouble crossing the river. Durer portrays Saint Christopher as a strong, muscular man, but is shown struggling while crossing the river with the petite child on his back. He leans on the tall branch to support him while crossing the river. Saint Christopher looks up at the child in awe, and in return the Christ child touches his head in a way of blessing Saint Christopher. Durer also has a cloud of white surrounding the head of the Christ child, implying that he is