Christ in Limbo, from "The Little Passion" (copy)

Christ in Limbo, from "The Little Passion" (copy) by Albrecht Dürer is a dramatic woodcut print chronicling a pivotal moment in Christian theology: the harrowing of hell. Produced sometime between 1485 and 1600, this piece belongs to the tradition established by Dürer’s influential series, The Little Passion, which provided accessible devotional imagery to a wide audience through the reproducible medium of prints.

The composition centers on the powerful figure of Christ, who descends into a dark, subterranean space to free the righteous souls held captive since before his sacrifice. Dürer’s masterful technique transforms the challenging woodcut medium into a scene of dynamic energy, contrasting the luminous Savior with the shadowed realm of the underworld. The narrative captures the moment of salvation as formerly detained Men and Women emerge, stretching towards the redemptive light emanating from Christ.

Although designated as a copy, this specific impression underscores the immense and sustained demand for Dürer’s designs across the German Renaissance and beyond. The widespread copying of his work solidified the artist's reputation as a groundbreaking master of graphic arts. Today, this representation of Christ in Limbo resides within the extensive prints and illustrated books collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Like many historic woodcut prints from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, high-resolution images of these influential works are frequently made available for study in the public domain.