The Lamentation, from "The Small Passion"

"The Lamentation, from "The Small Passion"," a poignant woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer between 1509 and 1510, exemplifies the dramatic power the artist brought to the print medium. This work belongs to Dürer's comprehensive narrative series documenting the life and sacrifice of Christ, known collectively as The Small Passion.

The piece addresses the traditional Lamentation subject, depicting the moment when the body of Christ has been taken from the cross and is mourned by the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene. Dürer’s Northern Renaissance sensibility is evident in the precise draughtsmanship and intense focus on emotional realism, capturing the profound grief of the figures surrounding the deceased. He utilized the woodcut technique, traditionally considered simpler than engraving, to achieve an astonishing level of detail, employing intricate crosshatching and varied line weights to convey texture and volume.

As one of the most prolific and technically brilliant printmakers of the High Renaissance, Dürer recognized the potential of such relief prints for widespread dissemination. By making religious iconography accessible to a larger public, he ensured the proliferation of his distinct artistic vision across Europe. The Small Passion series, consisting of thirty-six block prints, is considered a cornerstone of the German graphic arts tradition.

This striking print remains a crucial example of Dürer’s late maturity and his profound influence on the history of prints. It is preserved today within the comprehensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.