The Last Supper, from "The Small Passion"
Original title: The Last Supper, from "The Small Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Jesus Christ sits with his disciples at the Last Supper – this subject was chosen by Albrecht Dürer for his woodcut 'The Last Supper' from the series 'The Small Passion'. The sheet measures 12.7 x 9.8 cm and bears no date; it shows how confidently Dürer commanded the woodcut as an artistic medium.
Description
A bright light surrounds Jesus, who is seated at the center of a table. On the table stand plates, a cup, and a bottle. To his right and left the disciples are reclining; some look toward him, others turn their heads away. Faces and bodies are worked out with careful hatching. A plain wooden wall closes off the space at the back and gives the scene spatial stability.
Context
The 'Small Passion' was created between about 1509 and 1511 as a series of woodcuts and published in 1511 as a book with Latin text. It contains 37 scenes from the life and suffering of Christ and was intended for a broad audience as a devotional work. With his nuanced lines and hatching, Dürer advanced the artistic possibilities of the woodcut. The series is among the highlights of his printmaking oeuvre.
Impact
A calm, solemn mood emanates from the image, enhanced by the radiant light around Jesus. The dense hatching gives the whole a sense of depth and physicality. The clear composition and expressive faces draw the viewer into the event.
Technique
Auf dem Blatt erscheinen die Linien als klar abgegrenzte schwarze Spuren, die vom Druckstock stammen und sich mit dem Ton der Druckfarbe verbinden. Die feinen Schnitte und Schraffuren, die Figuren und Raum strukturieren, bleiben in der gedruckten Fläche präzise lesbar und verleihen der Darstellung ihre hohe Auflösung. In dieser erhaltenen Form zeigt sich das Verfahren als Zeugnis der fortgeschrittenen Druckgraphik der Renaissance.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)