The Lamentation, from "The Large Passion"

The Lamentation, from "The Large Passion" by Albrecht Dürer, is a masterful woodcut print created in 1511. This work forms part of Dürer's monumental series illustrating the life and suffering of Christ, renowned for its technical brilliance and dramatic depth. Dating to the height of the German Renaissance, Dürer’s sophisticated approach revolutionized the medium of woodcut, elevating it from a simple illustrative method to a fine art form capable of complex modeling and profound emotional nuance.

The composition depicts the tragic scene following the Deposition, focusing on the body of Christ laid out on the shroud. A sorrowful group of mourners surrounds Jesus, centrally communicating the theme of the Lamentation. Dürer’s signature detail is evident in the expressive faces of the Men and Women gathered around the body. The artist uses dense cross-hatching to define form and shadow, lending the figures in The Lamentation a powerful, sculptural presence uncommon in earlier prints. In the background, stark, leafless Trees underscore the desolate nature of the setting, further emphasizing the gravity and isolation of the moment.

This meticulous detail and emotional intensity demonstrate why Dürer remains the undisputed master of early 16th-century graphic arts. The powerful visual narrative seen in his prints significantly increased the circulation of religious imagery throughout Europe, appealing directly to a broad public audience. A high-quality impression of this historically vital woodcut is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.