Preview
Description
Woodcut.
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) the most renowned German artist of the Renaissance in Northern Europe. Painter, draughtsman, printmaker, and writer, Dürer was extraordinarily gifted and influential in the development of the art of printmaking. Among his most famous works were a series of woodcuts on religious subjects. In 1511, he produced the Little Passion series, which were published that same year with the poetry of Brother Benedictus Chelidonius (d 1521) in a book entitled Passio Christi ab Alberto Dürer. This release of The Little Passion was produced in 1971. Italian master engraver Leonardo Farina was commissioned to re-engrave Durer’s original woodcuts in honor of the 500th anniversary of his birth. This edition features English translation of the original Latin poetry.
Analysis
This illustration depicts a large crowd tightly clustered around a small hill. Above them we can only see the feet of Christ as he ascends to heaven. The impressions of his footprints remain on the hill below. Although the disciples are crowded together, their expressions of awe are still easy to observe. The figures at the front kneel and clasp their hands together. The composition of this scene draws the viewer to the experience of the disciples, who are left to continue the work of Jesus on earth.