The Great Passion: The Deposition

The Great Passion: The Deposition by Albrecht Dürer is a seminal example of German Renaissance printmaking, executed as a woodcut sometime within the productive period of 1497 to 1510. This pivotal image forms part of Dürer’s influential series, The Great Passion, a cycle dedicated to depicting the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. The choice of the woodcut medium allowed the artist to circulate complex theological and narrative imagery widely, playing a critical role in the religious and artistic life of Germany and Northern Europe during the early sixteenth century.

The subject focuses on the sorrowful Deposition, the moment Christ's lifeless body is taken down from the cross by Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other mourners, set against a dark, expressive landscape. Dürer utilizes the inherent contrast of the woodcut technique to achieve profound emotional depth, relying on strong, thick contour lines and dense cross-hatching to define voluminous figures and dramatic shadows. This technical mastery elevated the status of the print medium from mere illustration to high art. The work demonstrates Dürer’s ability to imbue traditional biblical narratives with heightened naturalism and pathos, solidifying his reputation as the era’s leading graphic artist. This impression of The Great Passion: The Deposition is preserved in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to the historical age and prominence of these celebrated prints, many high-quality reproductions and images derived from this series are now frequently accessible within the public domain, fostering continued study and appreciation of the artist’s legacy.