The Resurrection, from "The Passion"

The Resurrection, from "The Passion," is a pivotal engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1512. This remarkable work, executed late in Dürer’s career, showcases his unparalleled technical skill in the medium of printmaking. Produced using the intaglio process of engraving, the precision required to render the complex visual textures and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow distinguishes this print. As a crucial element of Dürer’s renowned graphic series The Passion, this piece exemplifies the high standard of German Renaissance graphic arts.

The composition dramatically captures the moment of Christ’s ascent from the tomb. Jesus Christ is depicted dynamically rising upward, his form bathed in a brilliant burst of divine light, symbolizing his triumph over death. Below him, the composition focuses on the terrestrial chaos of the tomb’s guardians. The Roman soldiers, depicted as ordinary men in various states of shock and alarm, are scattered and disoriented by the supernatural event. Dürer expertly uses the arrangement of the figures to emphasize the verticality of the miracle contrasted with the horizontal turmoil of the earthly realm below.

Created just before the Protestant Reformation began to sweep across Northern Europe, Dürer’s prints played a crucial role in disseminating religious imagery widely to the public. The accessibility afforded by the print medium meant that powerful images like The Resurrection could reach a much broader audience than traditional paintings or frescoes. This masterful engraving is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its enduring artistic importance ensures that high-resolution reproductions of this iconic Dürer work are frequently available via public domain initiatives.