The Man of Sorrows Seated, title page of "The Small Passion"
Original title: The Man of Sorrows Seated, title page of "The Small Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Made around 1511, Albrecht Dürer's woodcut presents the seated Man of Sorrows wearing a crown of thorns and with his hands bound. It serves as the title page for the 'Little Passion' and carries Latin verses.
Description
A seated man with an anguished expression and a crown of thorns, his arms held downward and his hands tied. He rests on a stone block, which in turn sits on a round, soft cushion; his feet are bare and show wounds. Behind his head, rays extend outward, pointing to suffering or devotion. Latin verses at the bottom explain the content. The layout is centered, with no other figures or objects.
Context
The 'Little Passion' comprises 37 woodcuts that Dürer produced between 1509 and 1511 and published as a book with Latin text in 1511. The title page with the Man of Sorrows takes up a widely known devotional motif that emphasizes Christ's suffering. At the time, Dürer was at the height of his graphic output and increasingly published his works on his own authority.
Impact
The woodcut moves viewers directly through its precise account of suffering and its centered arrangement. The clear lines and restriction to black and white give the sheet a serious, almost dramatic tone that invites quiet contemplation.
Technique
The monochrome printmaking concentrates expression entirely in sharp, unmodulated black lines, allowing the suffering face and the crown of thorns to emerge with precise clarity. Without color to soften or distract, the rays around the head and the bound hands read as stark graphic signs of pain and sacrifice.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)