Christ before Caiaphas, from The Engraved Passion

Christ before Caiaphas, from The Engraved Passion is a masterful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471–1528, in 1512. This print belongs to one of Dürer’s most significant devotional cycles, The Engraved Passion, which offered a more intimate and meticulously crafted alternative to his larger woodcut series. As a leading figure of the German Renaissance, Dürer utilized the burin with unparalleled precision, achieving a rich range of tonal variations and textures that define the technical potential of the medium. The intricate detail in the robes, architecture, and expressive figures highlights the technical prowess for which the artist is famous.

The scene depicts Christ enduring the initial judgment of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas, positioned prominently on the right, condemns Christ, whose passive composure contrasts sharply with the agitated figures surrounding him. Dürer’s dramatic rendering of this moment was highly influential throughout Germany and across Europe, contributing significantly to the visual culture of the period. The portability and accessibility inherent in prints allowed the spiritual intensity of this composition to reach a wide audience. The survival of so many high-quality impressions ensures that masterpieces like this often enter the public domain, guaranteeing continued access for study and appreciation. This particular example of the 1512 work is held in the renowned prints and drawings collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.