The Deposition, from "The Small Passion"

The Deposition, from "The Small Passion" is a dramatic woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer between 1509 and 1510. This print belongs to the artist's influential series, The Small Passion, which chronicled the life and suffering of Christ across 36 individual images intended for devotional use. Executed during the height of the German Renaissance, the work demonstrates Dürer’s exceptional technical mastery in the demanding medium of the woodcut, achieving a level of fine detail and nuanced shading previously associated primarily with copperplate engraving.

The subject, the descent of Christ’s body from the cross, is treated with intense emotional gravity. Unlike some traditional compositions of the Descent from the Cross, Dürer focuses tightly on the immediate scene, minimizing the background landscape. The central figure of Christ, limp and suspended, is surrounded by a distressed group of men carefully lowering him, while the women attending the scene, including the Virgin Mary, express profound grief. The tight grouping of figures emphasizes the physical effort and collective sorrow inherent in this post-Crucifixion moment.

As part of The Small Passion, this print was intended for widespread circulation among the lay public, solidifying Dürer’s reputation as the preeminent graphic artist of his era. The popularity of these prints contributed significantly to the dissemination of religious imagery throughout Northern Europe. Today, this impression of The Deposition is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a critical example of early 16th-century German prints and the enduring legacy of the Renaissance master.