The Man of Sorrows

Albrecht Dürer’s profound print, The Man of Sorrows (1515), is executed in the technically demanding medium of etching on iron. This particular impression represents the first state of three, showcasing the delicate line work and textural experiments characteristic of Dürer’s later career, shortly after he began exploring this new printmaking technique.

While Dürer was already universally recognized as a master of engraving, his exploration of etching allowed for a greater spontaneity and freedom in his execution. Etching utilizes acid to bite lines into the metal plate, a method that diverges sharply from the direct carving required for traditional engravings. This specific work, classified as a print, focuses intensely on the emotional toll of Christ’s Passion.

The subject of The Man of Sorrows depicts Christ after the flagellation but before the crucifixion, highlighting the profound sadness and human suffering inherent in the narrative. Dürer renders the figure with acute psychological realism, presenting the viewer with a subject of deep empathy, shown bound by ropes and typically wearing the crown of thorns.

Dürer produced only a handful of etchings, making these early experimental prints historically significant within the evolution of German Renaissance art. The exceptional clarity and detail of this impression ensure its status as a pivotal work by the master. This historic piece currently resides within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the antiquity and cultural importance of such images, high-resolution reproductions of these influential religious prints are often found in the public domain for scholarly study.