Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Engraved copies of The Little Passion by Albrecht Dürer are a significant collection of prints dating from approximately 1485 to 1699. This expansive timeline reflects the immense popularity and subsequent reproduction of Dürer's highly influential original series. Classified specifically as engravings, these intricate works utilize precise line work incised into metal plates, a technique Dürer perfected to achieve unprecedented levels of detail and tonal richness in printmaking during the Northern Renaissance.

The collection chronicles the final days of Christ’s life, encompassing numerous scenes from the Passion narrative. Each print depicts dramatic narrative encounters involving Jesus, surrounded by various Men and Women who participate in or witness the unfolding religious drama, from the Last Supper to the Resurrection. While the original series cemented Dürer’s reputation as a master graphic artist, the existence of these later copies highlights the enduring demand for his religious iconography and the practice of dissemination through prints across subsequent centuries.

The broad dating range, stretching over two hundred years, indicates that this grouping includes both direct contemporary copies and later interpretations, solidifying the importance of The Little Passion in the history of graphic arts. Dürer’s innovative approach to rendering complex, psychologically resonant narratives in this medium revolutionized artistic practice across Europe. These specific prints, held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, demonstrate the profound influence Dürer had on generations of artists and engravers who sought to emulate his distinctive style. Today, reproductions of these historic prints often become available through the public domain, maintaining the accessibility characteristic of the original print medium.