The Small Crucifixion ("The Pommel of Emperor Maximilian") - Albrecht Dürer

Bequest of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Jr.

"The Small Crucifixion ("The Pommel of Emperor Maximilian")" by Albrecht Dürer (1519) Engraving in black on ivory laid paper.

Commentary

"The Small Crucifixion ("The Pommel of Emperor Maximilian")" by Albrecht Dürer (1519) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, texture, a nd contrast do most of the expressive work. Themes to notice include engraving. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Albrecht Dürer is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528. The work is cataloged within a Germany cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as engraving, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Engraving in black on ivory laid paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Sheet: 3.6 × 3.6 cm (1 7/16 × 1 7/16 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include engraving. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/4102

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data