The Resurrection, from "The Little Passion"
Original title: The Resurrection, from "The Little Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1510, Albrecht Dürer made this woodcut showing the Resurrection of Christ. Christ stands at the center, surrounded by a halo and a veil, while soldiers pay him homage. The print belongs to Dürer's series 'The Small Passion'.
Description
Christ occupies the middle, in a long robe, his face framed by a radiant halo; his right hand holds a sword, and he gazes upward. To the left, soldiers kneel in adoration, and behind them an angel holds a crown. On the right, more soldiers bow. A landscape with clouds and a cemetery forms the backdrop. The layout feels symmetrical; delicate shading brings out the textures of clothing and hands. Light falls from above onto Christ, emphasizing his holiness.
Context
Between 1509 and 1511, Dürer created 'The Small Passion', a woodcut series of 37 prints. It was aimed at a wide audience and often served as a devotional image. Dürer used the then-new technique of woodcut to spread religious content in large editions. The Resurrection is the penultimate sheet in the series and follows the Crucifixion.
Impact
The central, symmetrical arrangement and the fall of light give the print a solemn calm. From the encounter between the heavenly apparition and the earthly soldiers arises a tension that draws the viewer into the event.
Technique
Dürer erzeugt Schatten und Tiefe durch feine, parallele Schraffuren, deren unterschiedliche Dichte den Linien tonale Werte verleiht. Das kleine Format von 12,7 x 9,8 cm erlaubt dabei eine detailreiche Ausführung, in der Licht von oben auf Christus fällt und seine Heiligkeit betont.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)