Engraved copies of The Little Passion 1485 - 1699

Here we see one of Albrecht Dürer's engraved copies of "The Little Passion," a series of 36 woodcut prints made during the early 16th century, a period of immense religious and social upheaval. Dürer lived during the rise of the printing press and the stirrings of the Protestant Reformation, and his art often grappled with themes of faith, humanity, and power. In this scene, we witness Christ before Pilate. Consider the power dynamics at play. Here is Christ, a figure of immense spiritual authority, yet he stands in chains before a temporal ruler. Look at the faces of those in the crowd, their expressions a mix of anger and fear, illustrating how easily collective sentiment can be manipulated. Dürer masterfully captures the emotional intensity of the moment. In this work, Dürer challenges traditional representations, inviting viewers to question the nature of justice and authority and the complexities of human nature.