The Lamentation, from The Large Passion

The Lamentation, from The Large Passion by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, is a cornerstone example of the Northern Renaissance master’s revolutionary approach to printmaking. Executed as a woodcut in black on ivory laid paper between 1498 and 1499, this piece demonstrates Dürer’s commitment to elevating the technical and expressive possibilities of the woodblock medium from a traditional craft to a high art form.

The composition depicts the poignant scene of Christ’s body mourned by the Virgin Mary and other devoted figures following the Crucifixion. The density of the figures and the dramatic intensity of their grief are rendered with exceptional precision. Dürer’s mastery is evident in the complex draughtsmanship, where intricate cross-hatching and varying line weights create nuanced tonal depth and texture, an unprecedented achievement for a relief print of this era.

This powerful image belongs to Dürer's monumental series, The Large Passion, a cycle of illustrations detailing the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. The dissemination of such print series throughout Germany was critical to both religious instruction and the establishment of Dürer's international reputation during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The scale and artistic complexity of these woodcut prints commanded respect across Europe, fundamentally influencing subsequent generations of graphic artists. The work currently resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public a vital look at the early history of German prints.