Christus wird ans Kreuz genagelt

1503–1507

Assistant in Dürer’s workshop in Nuremberg

During the “Wanderjahre” required of artists of the time, Baldung became an assistant to Albrecht Dürer and perfected his art with him until 1507; he quickly picked up the master’s style, and the two became friends. He seems to have run Dürer’s workshop during Dürer’s second stay in Venice, and near the end of his Nuremberg years oversaw the production of stained glass, woodcuts and engravings.

1503–1507

The nickname “Grien” — “Green”

It was possibly in Dürer’s workshop that he got the nickname “Grien” — for his love of green and green clothing, or to tell him apart from two other Hanses in the shop, Schäufelin and Suess von Kulmbach. He later worked the name into his monogram; it has also been suggested that it echoes “grienhals”, a German word for witch — one of his signature themes.

1509

Returns to Strasbourg and becomes a citizen

When his Nuremberg years came to an end, Baldung returned to Strasbourg and became a citizen; he became a celebrity of the town and received many important commissions. He was close to Sebastian Brant and Ulrich von Hutten.