Agony in the Garden, from The Large Passion

The powerful woodcut, Agony in the Garden, from The Large Passion, by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, was executed between 1496 and 1497. This early work is a superb example of Dürer’s foundational skills in the graphic arts. Created as a woodcut in black ink on ivory laid paper, the piece demonstrates the artist’s groundbreaking approach to printmaking, which elevated the medium beyond simple illustration into a sophisticated fine art form accessible to a broad audience.

The composition depicts Christ praying on the Mount of Olives just before his betrayal. The dramatic rendering shows Jesus kneeling in intense solitude, separated from his sleeping apostles, Peter, James, and John, who are clustered in the lower foreground. Above Christ, an angel descends, offering the symbolic cup of suffering, while Judas and the Roman soldiers approach in the background. Dürer’s meticulous handling of the woodcut medium allows for complex textures and deep shadows, defining the jagged rocks and the distant fortified city wall.

Produced in Germany during the nascent Renaissance, the creation and distribution of these high-quality prints helped cement Dürer’s reputation across Europe as a master draftsman. The widespread accessibility of such powerful religious narratives furthered the artist's influence. As a work created in the late 15th century, the image is now considered part of the public domain. This significant print remains a key component of the Art Institute of Chicago’s distinguished collection of German Old Master prints.