The Betrayal of Christ, from "The Passion"

The Betrayal of Christ, from "The Passion" is a pivotal 1508 engraving by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer. This highly dramatic composition belongs to Dürer's "Engraved Passion" series, a smaller, more intimate counterpart to his earlier woodcut series on the same theme. Created shortly after his second return from Italy, this print demonstrates Dürer’s sophisticated technical mastery of the burin, establishing him as the preeminent printmaker of his generation and solidifying his reputation throughout Northern Europe.

The scene captures the moment of Christ’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas Iscariot administers the fatal kiss while the surrounding mob, consisting of numerous men, presses in from the left. Dürer focuses tension on the central confrontation, sharply contrasting Christ’s calm acceptance with the chaotic energy of the soldiers. The composition is visually dense, utilizing powerful diagonal lines formed by the bodies and the weaponry of the arresting party. The soldiers carry various swords and staves, rendered with the meticulous precision characteristic of Dürer's fine line work. The intense darkness achieved through the depth of the engraving amplifies the emotional weight of the betrayal.

As one of the critical prints from the "Engraved Passion," this work confirmed Dürer’s massive artistic influence. Unlike monumental oil paintings, the mass production capacity inherent in such fine prints allowed this image to disseminate widely, affecting both devotional practice and artistic copying across the continent. This important Renaissance print is currently held within the expansive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural significance, the artwork is often found in the public domain, making high-resolution reproductions accessible for scholarly study and general appreciation globally.