Christ Appearing to His Mother, from "The Small Passion"
Original title: Christ Appearing to His Mother, from "The Small Passion"
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1510, Albrecht Dürer made this woodcut of the risen Christ meeting his mother Mary. The print belongs to the series 'The Small Passion' and measures 12.7 x 9.5 cm. Printed in black and white, it captures the reunion of Jesus and Mary.
Description
Christ, wearing a long robe and mantle, appears from a window; the bright light surrounding him underscores his divine nature. Mary kneels on the left, a child on her lap, her anxious gaze lifted toward Jesus. Curtains and a window form the rear area. Clear lines define the figures, and the layout feels balanced and symmetrical.
Context
Between 1509 and 1511, Dürer worked on the 'Small Passion', a woodcut series of 37 sheets telling the life and suffering of Christ. It was aimed at a broad audience and published in 1511 as a book with Latin texts. By then Dürer was already a respected artist in Nuremberg, experimenting with various printmaking techniques.
Impact
The light enveloping Jesus creates a spiritual mood and draws attention to the divine apparition. Delicate linework and the calm arrangement produce an intimate, devotional atmosphere that pulls the viewer into the event.
Technique
Auf diesem Blatt füllt die Begegnung zwischen Christus und Maria das Hochformat fast vollständig aus, wobei die Figuren den Bildraum bis an die Ränder besetzen. Die klare, symmetrische Anordnung und die monochrome Schwarz-Weiß-Wirkung lassen die Szene fest auf der Fläche ruhen.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)