The Entombment, from "The Passion"

The Entombment, from "The Passion" by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1512, stands as a pivotal example of German Renaissance printmaking. This powerful composition is executed in the technically demanding medium of engraving, utilizing precise burin work to achieve remarkable detail and tonal depth. As part of a larger series chronicling the final days and suffering of Christ, this print captures the moment following the Crucifixion as Christ’s body is lowered into the sepulcher.

Dürer masterfully orchestrates the scene, focusing intensely on the profound sadness and grief of the mourners. The central focus rests on the deposition of Christ, surrounded by figures whose poses and expressions convey palpable anguish, particularly the devastating sorrow of the Virgin Mary. The composition employs a dynamic interplay of shadow and light, characteristic of Dürer’s technique, to heighten the dramatic tension inherent in the Entombment narrative.

The "Passion" series was highly influential, demonstrating the growing reach of reproducible prints as a means of disseminating religious imagery across Europe. This particular impression highlights the artist’s mature style and his ability to combine Northern European emotional intensity with Italian Renaissance clarity of form. This print is held within the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the lasting impact and significance of Dürer’s oeuvre, high-resolution prints of many works from this pivotal series are now widely available through public domain archives, ensuring continued access to this monumental achievement in Renaissance art.