The Large Passion: The Betrayal of Christ

The Large Passion: The Betrayal of Christ by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1510, is a pivotal example of the artist’s mastery of printmaking during the German Renaissance. This powerful scene, executed as a woodcut, showcases the dramatic intensity that characterizes Dürer’s monumental series, The Large Passion. The precise detail achieved through this highly demanding technique elevates the expressive capacity of the print medium, demonstrating the technical sophistication prevalent in early 16th-century Germany.

The composition captures the moment of Christ’s apprehension in the Garden of Gethsemane. Dürer focuses on the chaos and violence, contrasting the resigned figure of Christ with the aggressive actions of the Roman soldiers and the treacherous presence of Judas Iscariot. The dynamic interaction of figures, combined with the dramatic interplay of light and shadow rendered through intricate cross-hatching, distinguishes Dürer’s narrative style. This piece is integral to the sequence of Passion narratives Dürer developed across his career, reflecting the deep religious fervor and artistic innovation of Northern Europe. The complexity of the scene, utilizing the deep shadows and crisp lines essential to the woodcut process, establishes Dürer as a defining figure of German Renaissance art.

Dated at the height of the artist’s productivity, this work was widely distributed as part of a published book format, ensuring its profound influence across Europe. As seminal works of this period are often available, high-quality images of these significant historical prints are sometimes found within public domain repositories, allowing broad access to Dürer’s genius. This specific impression of The Large Passion: The Betrayal of Christ resides within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving a vital record of Renaissance printmaking.