The Lamentation

The Lamentation by Albrecht Dürer is a seminal work in the history of Northern Renaissance printmaking, created as a woodcut sometime between 1485 and 1528. This broad dating encompasses the peak period of Dürer’s artistic output, during which he radically transformed the status of the print medium, elevating it from mere illustration to a fully developed art form. Dürer’s technical genius is evident in the precise linework and masterful control required to achieve such depth and volume within the demanding constraints of the woodcut technique.

The composition addresses the profound religious subject of the Lamentation, depicting the immediate aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus. The central focus is the deceased body of Christ surrounded by grieving figures, notably the Virgin Mary, whose expression conveys intense sorrow. This dramatic scene allowed Dürer to explore human emotion and theological narrative simultaneously, making his prints powerful devotional objects that were widely distributed across Europe.

Dürer’s innovative approach to mass-produced images meant that complex, high-quality artworks were made available to a broader audience, helping to shape the visual culture of the German Renaissance. As a key figure in the history of prints, Dürer’s works quickly entered the public domain of artistic reference, influencing generations of graphic artists who studied his rigorous approach to human anatomy and composition. This specific impression of the woodcut is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a critical example of the power and sophistication achieved by a master German Renaissance printmaker.