The Betrayal of Christ, from "The Passion"

The Betrayal of Christ, from "The Passion" is a pivotal engraving executed by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1508. This influential print belongs to the series known as "The Engraved Passion," a set of sixteen compositions Dürer produced primarily after his return from Venice. The creation of such detailed prints solidified Dürer’s reputation across Europe, showcasing his unparalleled technical supremacy in copperplate engraving. The medium allowed him to achieve a dramatic range of tone and texture, which was essential for conveying the emotional and physical turmoil of the depicted scene.

The composition captures the chaotic moment immediately after the kiss of Judas, which signaled to the accompanying mob the identity of Christ. Dürer’s arrangement focuses intense visual energy on the central confrontation. Christ stands calmly among a dense mass of aggressive Men, their faces contorted by malice and illuminated by torches in the nighttime setting. The chaos is emphasized by the presence of numerous drawn Swords and staves wielded by the soldiers and temple guards, indicating the violent nature of the arrest. This work powerfully emphasizes the theological concept of Christ’s willingness to submit to his fate.

Dürer intended this series for wide circulation, ensuring that high-quality prints of religious narrative were accessible beyond private chapels. As a key example of the German Renaissance adoption of precise drafting combined with Northern intensity, this print remains a crucial historical document of early 16th-century visual culture. The Betrayal of Christ is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.