The Ascension from a set of The Passion 1592

This tapestry, "The Ascension" from the Passion series, was created after a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. It was made around 1592, decades after Dürer's death, amidst the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. The image depicts Christ ascending into heaven, surrounded by clouds, while his apostles kneel and gaze upwards. Tapestries like these were not merely decorative; they served as powerful visual aids in a society where literacy was limited. In representing this pivotal moment of the New Testament, the tapestry underscores themes of faith, hope, and divine promise, reflecting the intense spiritual preoccupations of its time. Consider how the artist employs color and composition to evoke a sense of awe and reverence. The upward gaze of the apostles draws us into their emotional experience of witnessing the divine. This work provides a window into the complex interplay between art, religion, and society in the late 16th century.