The Lamentation, from "The Passion"

The Lamentation, from "The Passion" is an exquisite engraving created by the German master Albrecht Dürer in 1507. This early 16th-century print demonstrates Dürer’s unparalleled technical mastery of the burin, establishing him as the foremost graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance. As a key figure in the history of prints, Dürer leveraged the inherent reproducibility of the medium to widely disseminate his intense religious imagery across Europe. This particular sheet, which forms part of a larger series depicting the narrative of Christ's suffering, exemplifies the precision and detail that characterize his work, moving beyond simple narrative illustration to profound emotional engagement.

The subject matter centers on the immediate aftermath of the Crucifixion, depicting the moment when the body of Christ is mourned before burial. This traditional theme of the Lamentation is treated with stark emotional clarity. A distraught group of Men and Women surrounds the deceased savior, their grief captured through highly detailed facial expressions and dramatically draped garments. Dürer focuses attention on the sorrow of the Virgin Mary and the disciples. In the background, physical remnants of the crucifixion remain visible, specifically the Ladders used for the deposition, which lean against the cross. This careful composition allows the viewer to absorb the full sacred drama. Classified as a foundational work of the German Renaissance, this historic engraving is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a primary example of Dürer’s profoundly influential output of devotional prints.