Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Engraved copies of The Little Passion by Albrecht Dürer represent a seminal achievement in late fifteenth and sixteenth-century German Renaissance graphic arts. Produced using the complex technique of engraving, these prints detail the intense narrative of Christ’s suffering. While Dürer’s original series dates primarily to the early 1510s, the wide date range (1485-1699) suggests the enduring popularity and subsequent reproduction of the iconographic sequence by various hands across two centuries. This collection of copies, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides critical insight into the widespread dissemination of religious imagery following the invention of the movable type press, solidifying Dürer's reputation as a master draftsman.

The subject matter focuses tightly on the dramatic moments leading up to and including the Crucifixion, conveying a profound sense of human affliction. Dürer’s unparalleled command of the engraving medium allowed him to render textures and expressions of acute suffering. The sequence chronicles the actions of various men, both the afflicted figure of Christ and his tormentors, often emphasizing the brutality through the depiction of historical weapons used in the acts of flagellation and arrest. The central theological theme, climaxing with the placement of Christ upon the Cross, was designed for intense personal meditation by devout viewers. This work cemented Dürer’s legacy as the foremost German Renaissance printmaker, influencing generations of graphic artists whose prints, now often considered public domain, remain integral to the history of Western art.