The Resurrection

The Resurrection is a masterful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer, produced during the pivotal era of the German Renaissance between 1485 and 1528. This print exemplifies Dürer’s revolutionary approach to the medium, transforming the seemingly simple woodcut from a rudimentary illustrative tool into a sophisticated art form capable of narrative complexity and emotional depth. Dürer’s meticulous handling of line, texture, and shadow utilizes the stark contrasts inherent in the relief printmaking technique to achieve a powerful and dramatic visual effect. The medium allowed the artist to disseminate his theological and artistic interpretations widely across Northern Europe, cementing his status as a key figure in the Renaissance.

The piece dramatically depicts the central moment of the Christian faith: the rising of Christ from the tomb. Emerging triumphant and weightless from the stone sarcophagus, Christ holds the banner of victory as the Roman guards below recoil in astonishment and fear. Dürer focuses intently on the dynamism of the scene, rendering the soldiers’ poses with the detailed anatomical precision that characterized Renaissance art. The skillful distribution of light highlights Christ’s divine ascension while plunging the surrounding figures into shadow, emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle.

As a highly sought-after example of early modern printmaking, this impression of The Resurrection is housed within the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The enduring artistic significance and the age of the work ensure its continued scholarly attention. Due to its historical context and age, high-resolution images of this print are often found within the public domain, providing global access to Dürer’s profound visual interpretation of the Resurrection story.