Jesus dies on the cross
- Artist: Bruce Onobrakpeya
- Date: 1969
- Medium: Linocut on paper
- Dimensions: image: 235 x 587 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Jesus dies on the cross” by Bruce Onobrakpeya. A 1969 linocut on paper, it’s the thirteenth of a fourteen‑print series that retells the Stations of the Cross in a distinctly Nigerian context. The apostles are dressed in richly patterned Adire cloth, while those restraining Jesus wear colonial‑era police uniforms, grounding the biblical drama in the visual language of the Yoruba people.
The print’s palette leans blue and green, punctuated with yellow and orange highlights that echo traditional textiles and architecture. Geometric motifs frame each scene, extending onto the crosses that dominate the composition. Onobrakpeya’s technique—sharp, relief‑cut lines—creates a dramatic, almost sculptural feel.
Although the piece stands alone, it’s part of a larger narrative that juxtaposes faith and cultural identity during Nigeria’s post‑colonial period, making it a powerful example of African modernism in print.
See it in person
Jesus dies on the cross is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
