Christ on the Mount of Olives, from "The Large Passion"

Christ on the Mount of Olives, from "The Large Passion," is a profound woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This monumental print belongs to Dürer’s influential series detailing the life and sacrifice of Christ. The decision to render the Passion narrative in the relatively accessible medium of the woodcut allowed Dürer to widely disseminate his interpretations of key biblical events across Europe, solidifying his reputation as a master draftsman and printmaker during the German Renaissance. Dürer's innovation in the print medium elevated the woodcut from a simple illustrative technique to a major artistic form capable of expressing profound theological depth.

The scene depicts the agonizing moment of Christ’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane just prior to his betrayal. The composition centers on Christ, kneeling in deep anguish, dramatically framed against a dark, dense landscape. The power of the image is heightened by the appearance of an Angel, who descends from the sky bearing a cross and chalice, symbolizing the suffering Christ is about to endure. In the foreground, the sleeping figures of the Apostles, representing the men who failed to keep watch, are rendered with a powerful sense of human frailty. Dürer masterfully uses strong contrasts of black and white, characteristic of the woodcut technique, to underscore the spiritual intensity of this pivotal moment in the biblical narrative.

While initially created as part of a published book, this impression of Christ on the Mount of Olives stands today as a testament to the artist’s skill. Works from this period established Dürer as one of the most significant artists working in prints during the early 16th century. This specific impression is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a crucial example of Northern European graphic arts. Many works from Dürer’s extensive print series are now widely available, contributing significantly to the rich heritage of public domain art accessible globally.