Christ Taking Leave from His Mother

Christ Taking Leave from His Mother, created by Albrecht Dürer between 1509 and 1510, is a masterful example of German Renaissance graphic arts. This piece is executed as a woodcut on laid paper, a technically demanding print medium in which Dürer excelled, achieving tonal nuance previously thought impossible with relief printing. Created during the period of 1501 to 1550, this influential German work reflects the spiritual intensity and artistic dynamism occurring in Nuremberg, Dürer’s hometown, as Central Europe grappled with theological change.

Dürer frequently explored religious narratives, particularly scenes from the Passion and the life of the Virgin, utilizing the high-contrast drama inherent to woodcuts to great effect. The subject captures the profound, melancholic moment when Christ departs from the Virgin Mary, anticipating his imminent suffering and death. The composition is charged with emotion, focusing tightly on the figures whose gestures convey both divine resolve and maternal sorrow. Dürer’s unparalleled ability to render complex compositions and intricate details, even within the physical constraints of the woodblock, cemented his reputation among his contemporaries.

The widespread reproducibility of prints allowed works like this to reach a broad audience, establishing Dürer’s influence across Europe and ensuring his legacy as one of the most significant German artists of his age. This impression is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the age and cultural significance of the original woodcut, high-resolution images of the artwork are often considered part of the public domain, making Dürer’s visual vocabulary accessible for scholarly and art historical study worldwide.