The Deposition, from "The Small Passion"

The Deposition, from "The Small Passion," by Albrecht Dürer is a powerful woodcut created between 1509 and 1510. This piece belongs to Dürer’s highly influential series known as The Small Passion, which comprises 36 meticulously detailed black-and-white prints depicting the life and suffering of Christ. Produced during the height of the Northern Renaissance, the series showcases Dürer’s sophisticated technical mastery of the woodcut medium, transforming the typically rough technique into a precise vehicle for complex narrative and profound emotional depth.

The scene focuses on the solemn moment immediately following the Crucifixion, illustrating the removal of Christ's body from the cross. Numerous figures, including both men and women, surround the central figure, expressing profound grief and sorrow. Dürer’s compositional skill allows him to crowd these mourning figures into a small space while maintaining striking clarity, utilizing the sharp contrasts of light and shadow characteristic of his prints. Note the powerful emotional conveyance in the faces of the women and the muscular detail shown by the men tasked with the difficult deposition.

The publication of The Small Passion cemented Dürer’s reputation across Europe and made complex devotional imagery accessible to a wider audience through mass-produced prints. The original edition of this powerful print series remains significant today, and high-quality prints derived from this work are often found in public domain collections globally, reflecting the enduring legacy of Dürer’s artistry. This particular impression of The Deposition is housed within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.