The Doubting Thomas, from "The Small Passion"

The Doubting Thomas, from "The Small Passion" by Albrecht Dürer, is a powerful example of German Renaissance graphic art, executed as a woodcut around 1510. This work belongs to Dürer’s influential series The Small Passion, a set of 36 biblical scenes designed to be accessible and easily distributed across Europe. The meticulous design required for the woodcut medium showcases Dürer’s technical mastery, as he manipulated light and shadow through complex cross-hatching and carefully calibrated lines to achieve an unprecedented level of detail in relief printing.

The composition captures the dramatic climax of the biblical narrative where the Apostle Thomas confronts the risen Christ. Thomas, depicted as one of the skeptical men, reaches out to verify the reality of the Resurrection by placing his hand into the wound in Christ’s side. Dürer focuses intently on the figures, using their expressive gestures and individualized facial features to convey the spiritual tension between Thomas's profound doubt and ultimate acceptance of faith.

Dürer’s use of the woodcut medium fundamentally changed the perception of prints during the early sixteenth century, demonstrating that graphic arts could achieve the same depth and artistic complexity as painting. The success of the Small Passion cemented the artist’s reputation as the foremost printmaker of his era. This impression of The Doubting Thomas is held in the comprehensive prints and drawings collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting its enduring status as a key piece of early modern religious iconography. Due to the historical significance and age of the material, prints from this seminal series are frequently studied in academic contexts, often reproduced through various public domain initiatives.