The Large Passion: The Last Supper

The Large Passion: The Last Supper, executed by Albrecht Dürer in 1510, is a masterful example of the woodcut technique from the early German Renaissance. This print belongs to the celebrated Large Passion series, which Dürer worked on intermittently between 1497 and 1510. The series revolutionized the potential of the woodcut medium, moving it beyond simple illustration into high art suitable for wide public dissemination. Dürer’s choice to depict the critical moment of the Last Supper, where Christ announces his impending betrayal, highlights the dramatic tension characteristic of his later graphic works produced in Germany.

As a woodcut, the image relies entirely on the contrast between black and white, demanding precision in the cutting process. Dürer's innovation lay in using remarkably fine lines and complex cross-hatching, previously associated only with engraving, to achieve subtle variations in tone and texture. In this specific depiction, the apostles are tightly grouped around the table, reacting with individualized gestures of shock and confusion to Christ's revelation. The dramatic intensity of the scene is amplified by the use of architectural elements, which frame the central action without distracting from the emotional core of the narrative.

The creation of affordable, high-quality prints like these cemented Dürer’s reputation across Europe, making sophisticated Renaissance art accessible to a broader audience. Because of their significance in art history, many of these influential works are now in the public domain, allowing global access to the German master’s vision. This specific impression of The Large Passion: The Last Supper is housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving a key moment in the history of German graphic arts and the development of the Passion narrative genre.