Agony in the Garden
Original title: Agony in the Garden
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer's etching 'The Agony in the Garden' dates from 1515 and presents Christ at prayer in Gethsemane. The print measures 22.3 × 15.6 cm and belongs among the graphic works of the Nuremberg master.
Description
Jesus kneels, dressed in a long-sleeved tunic; bright light falls from above onto his face. To his left stands a female figure, likely Mary Magdalene, and to his right another person who can be read as an angel or disciple. Trees and clouds layer the background, deepening the devotional mood. Above, an angel appears with a chalice, the cup of Gethsemane. Hatching and line create shadow and highlight, giving the composition depth and tension.
Context
In 1515, when Dürer was living in Nuremberg and already established as an artist, he devoted himself increasingly to religious subjects and to experimentation in printmaking. The Agony in the Garden belonged to the standard repertoire of Christian art and illustrated Jesus's human suffering as well as his divine submission.
Impact
The dense execution and strong lighting underscore the spiritual tension of the subject. Because color is absent, the figures and symbolic elements come to the fore; from this arises a quiet but insistent devotion.
Technique
The drawing was etched into a metal plate, and acid deepened the lines; fine hatching and lines let Dürer model shadow and light, as is characteristic of his prints. The etching process allowed precise details and a large number of impressions, which shows on the sheet in the sharp, monochrome linework.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)