The Lamentation, from "The Passion," created by Albrecht Dürer in 1507, is a masterful example of Renaissance printmaking. Executed as an engraving, the work showcases the intricate detail and technical precision that made Dürer one of the most influential German artists of his time. This small-scale print was part of Dürer's "Engraved Passion," a demanding set of sixteen plates depicting the suffering and death of Christ.
The composition centers intensely on the traditional subject of the Lamentation, depicting the immediate aftermath of the Crucifixion. Weeping men and women surround the lifeless body of Christ, conveying profound grief and emotional intensity. Dürer’s handling of light and shadow, achieved through precise burin work, gives the central figures a sculptural quality, enhancing the pathos of the scene. The crowded arrangement emphasizes the collective sorrow of the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, and the other disciples gathered around their fallen leader.
As a print, this piece was intended for wider circulation than a unique painting, allowing Dürer's distinctive style to spread across Europe during the German Renaissance. This impression of the engraving is held in the expansive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), where it serves as a critical example of Dürer’s mature graphic output. Because of its historical significance and status, this iconic work is frequently reproduced for scholarly study, with high-quality digital prints often available via the public domain.
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