The Resurrection, from "The Small Passion"

The Resurrection, from "The Small Passion" is a definitive woodcut created by the German master Albrecht Dürer in 1510. This complex piece belongs to Dürer’s influential series dedicated to the life and Passion of Christ, known for its compact format and extraordinary detail achieved through the challenging process of relief printing.

The scene captures the dramatic theological climax as Christ levitates miraculously from the open tomb, usually represented holding a banner symbolizing his triumph over death. Beneath him, the various Men guarding the tomb, Roman soldiers armed with their shields and Weapons, react in astonished terror. Dürer expertly contrasts the ethereal, weightless figure of Christ ascending heavenward with the heavy, earthbound forms and dynamic poses of the mortals below. While the image depicts the resurrection itself, the entire “Small Passion” series relates directly to the events preceding it, connecting the triumph of this moment to the earlier sacrifice upon the Cross.

Dürer revolutionized the accessibility of religious art through the mass production of devotional images. By mastering the demanding technique of the woodcut, he ensured that high-quality prints could be widely distributed across Europe, cementing his reputation as a leading figure of the Northern Renaissance. The meticulous hatching and fine line work visible in this particular impression demonstrate Dürer’s ability to infuse the woodcut medium with the atmospheric subtlety usually reserved for copperplate engraving. This impression of The Resurrection is maintained within the esteemed print collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.