The Last Supper

The Last Supper by Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1523, is a defining example of the German master’s late printmaking career and his exploration of sacred narratives in the early 16th century. Classified as a print, the work was created using the challenging relief technique of the woodcut, a medium Dürer had championed since the late 1400s. Produced in the period spanning 1501 to 1550, this piece reflects the dramatic shifts in religious and artistic focus occurring across Northern Europe during the Reformation era, particularly within German territories.

Dürer was instrumental in elevating the status of the print, transforming woodcut images from simple illustrations into sophisticated, highly detailed works of art capable of wide distribution among the populace. The subject, the final meal shared by Christ and his Apostles, is typically one of intense drama and revelation. However, Dürer focuses on precision and compositional clarity. The intense detail and dramatic use of line found in this woodcut showcase the artist’s mastery of draftsmanship.

This piece was originally part of a larger series documenting the Passion of Christ, circulating widely and contributing to the burgeoning demand for accessible devotional art. As a figure sympathetic to the developing Protestant movement, Dürer often adapted traditional Catholic iconography in his later prints, subtly impacting how these sacred narratives were consumed by the public during a period of profound theological debate. The enduring quality of Dürer’s graphic style made his prints foundational to the study of early sixteenth-century art. This particular impression of The Last Supper is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Due to the historical nature and widespread accessibility of Dürer’s graphic output, high-quality images of this print are frequently found available in the public domain for research and academic study.