The Crucifixion, from "The Small Passion"
Original title: The Crucifixion, from "The Small Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Christ hangs on the cross, surrounded by soldiers and other figures who watch the event. Albrecht Dürer's woodcut belongs to the Small Passion, a series of 37 sheets on the Passion of Christ, made around 1509.
Description
Jesus wears a crown of thorns and bears a wound in his side, his face contorted in pain. Beneath the cross lies a dead body, limbs twisted, face a mask. Around him stand soldiers with helmets and weapons, observing or commenting. Their clothing varies, indicating their rank. The background remains bare and dark, drawing the eye to the crucifixion.
Context
The Small Passion was created between 1508 and 1510 and first published in 1511 as a book with Latin texts by Benedikt Schwalbe. Dürer produced the woodcuts in his Nuremberg workshop, already renowned throughout Europe. The series was intended as a devotional book for a broad audience and helped spread Dürer's fame.
Impact
The simple layout and clear lines draw the viewer directly to the action on the cross. Suffering and death stand out immediately, without superfluous detail. The restriction to black and white emphasizes the seriousness of the scene and gives it a timeless, meditative quality.
Technique
Die differenzierte Schraffur und die präzise Linienarbeit belegen Dürers sichere Beherrschung des Holzschnitts. Durch die gleichmäßige Lichtverteilung ohne harte Kontraste entsteht eine ruhige, flächige Tonwirkung, die den Fokus ganz auf die Figuren der Kreuzigung lenkt.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)