Deposition, from The Engraved Passion

Deposition, from The Engraved Passion by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, is a pivotal example of Renaissance German printmaking. Created in 1512, this meticulously detailed work is an engraving executed in black ink on ivory laid paper. This medium demands absolute precision, showcasing Dürer’s unparalleled technical mastery of the burin and the ability to render complex compositions on a small scale. The scene depicts the body of Christ being sorrowfully lowered from the cross, emphasizing the profound grief of the Virgin Mary and the physical weight of the deceased Lord.

The Deposition forms a critical component of Dürer’s major series, The Engraved Passion, which helped revolutionize the distribution and consumption of sophisticated devotional imagery throughout early modern Europe. The German Renaissance provided a fertile environment for the development of such popular prints, making works like this highly influential among both wealthy patrons and the broader public. Dürer’s technical approach skillfully merges the Northern European attention to texture and meticulous detail with the anatomical realism gleaned from his studies of Italian Renaissance art.

In this piece, the crowded composition focuses tightly on the immediate drama unfolding, contrasting the figures' emotional intensity with the stark background defined by the large wooden cross. The powerful crosshatching defining the drapery and musculature allows the artist to achieve deep tonal contrasts and dramatic shadow effects despite the constraints of the single-color medium. As one of the most significant German artists of his era, Dürer’s prints are cornerstones of major international collections. This specific impression is housed in the distinguished print collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key reference point for the study of 16th-century religious prints. Because of its historical importance, this masterwork is frequently made available to the public through digital resources, furthering its legacy as an essential element of the public domain.