In the Christian tradition, the Sudarium is the cloth of St Veronica, who wiped the sweat of Christ’s face on his way to Calvary. It is a direct record of Christ’s presence on earth and often figures in devotional imagery. Here, the cloth billows in the wind, mirroring the movement of the angel’s gown. Though the likeness of Christ is hardly visible, the direction of the angel’s gaze suggests its importance. This ‘feverish vision’ is one of the few etchings that Dürer ever made. The artist has taken full advantage of the possibilities of the technique, creating an impetuous impression similar to that achieved in pen drawing.