Christ in Emmaus, from "The Small Passion" (copy)
Original title: Christ in Emmaus, from "The Small Passion" (copy)
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer's woodcut from the 'Little Passion' brings before our eyes the encounter of the risen Christ with two disciples at Emmaus. This undated upright print measures 13 x 9.8 cm and is a single-colour impression. At its heart is the meal at table, where Christ breaks the bread.
Description
A halo of rays falls from above onto Christ, who sits behind a table and forms the central axis of the image. To his left and right, two men in Renaissance garments take their places. On the set table stand plates of food and vessels for drinking. The arrangement feels symmetrical; delicate lines and hatching create the play of light.
Context
The 'Little Passion' was made between 1509 and 1511 in Nuremberg, where Dürer worked as a free master. It comprises 37 woodcuts on the life and suffering of Christ. Intended as devotional images for a broad public, they became popular thanks to their handy format and affordable woodcut technique. This sheet is a later copy and testifies to the wide dissemination of the series.
Impact
The light around Christ immediately draws the eye to the centre and bathes the event in an otherworldly aura. The calm, clear layout emphasises the moment when the disciples recognise him. Symmetry and the reduced surface condense the scene into a concentrated, devotional mood, further enhanced by the fine linework of the woodcut.
Technique
Auf dem Blatt verbinden sich Papierton und Druckfarbe zu einem monochromen Zusammenspiel, in dem die Lichteffekte allein aus der Strichführung hervorgehen. Dürers feine Linien und Schraffuren modellieren Texturen und Schatten so präzise, dass die Szene trotz des einfarbigen Drucks räumliche Tiefe gewinnt.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)