Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Engraved copies of The Little Passion by Albrecht Dürer is a remarkable collection of prints housed in the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dating broadly between 1485 and 1699, this series of engravings reflects the profound influence and subsequent widespread dissemination of Dürer’s original works detailing the final days of Christ. As masterpieces of Northern Renaissance printmaking, these impressions illustrate the precision and technical skill required for the engraving medium, where the artist meticulously incises lines into copper plates to create dense shadows and fine, descriptive detail.

The subject matter centers entirely on the narrative of the Passion, depicting Christ in critical moments of suffering, trial, and sacrifice. The compositions focus intensely on the interactions between Christ and the various figures (Men) that surround him, whether they are sympathetic apostles, antagonistic guards, or judgmental crowds. Dürer’s designs were revolutionary in their emotional intensity and compact narrative focus, making the original series highly desired across Europe as a devotional tool.

The wide temporal span of the production (1485-1699) strongly suggests that many of these impressions are later pulls or expertly executed copies produced long after Dürer’s lifetime. This continuous production underscores the enduring legacy of the German master's compositions. The proliferation of high-quality prints like these cemented Dürer’s status as a leader of the graphic arts, utilizing the reproducibility of the medium to ensure his complex visual interpretations reached a massive audience. These historic prints remain invaluable resources within The Met's extensive collection, offering insight into the development of sacred art and the print trade during the Renaissance and Baroque eras.