The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ

The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ by Albrecht Dürer is a powerful early modern print created between 1509 and 1510. This definitive work exemplifies the German Renaissance master’s genius for narrative compression and technical precision within the medium of the woodcut. The print belongs to the acclaimed series, "The Small Passion," which, despite its title, exerted enormous cultural influence throughout Germany and Central Europe due to its accessibility and emotional intensity.

The scene depicts the climactic moment of Christ’s betrayal and arrest. Dürer utilizes the inherent high contrast of the woodcut technique to convey the drama of the event, concentrating the action around Judas Iscariot's treacherous kiss. The densely packed composition features heavily armed Roman soldiers clashing in chaotic confrontation, while the central figure of Christ remains emotionally resolved. Dürer’s mastery of line work allows him to render detailed facial expressions and complex textures, transforming the relatively small print into a dynamic and emotionally resonant scene.

This piece stands as a seminal example of Dürer's role in elevating printmaking to the status of high art. The widespread distribution of these devotional works solidified his reputation during his lifetime and beyond. Today, impressions of these celebrated Dürer prints, including The Small Passion: The Betrayal of Christ, are highly sought after, with many high-resolution examples residing in the public domain for research and scholarly study. This particular impression of the woodcut is held within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.