Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Description

The Lamentation, from Engraved copies of The Little Passion after Albrecht Dürer, gathers grief into a closely woven group of figures. Christ’s body rests at the center while the surrounding mourners bend, reach and raise their hands. A ladder behind them and the crown of thorns in the foreground connect the intimate scene to the events of the Passion.

The engraved lines follow the folds of clothing and the curves of the figures, giving the crowded arrangement both clarity and movement. Dark passages around the cross set off the pale body and expressive faces. Each gesture contributes a different note of sorrow, making this an affecting image of human tenderness as well as religious devotion.