Great Passion

woodcut series by Albrecht Dürer

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June 29, 2026

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The "Great Passion" is a series of 12 woodcuts created by the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer around 1498. These prints illustrate scenes from the Passion of Christ, depicting his suffering and crucifixion. While Dürer's work was influenced by Italian Renaissance styles, the woodcuts in the "Great Passion" series retain a strong Gothic character, characterized by expressive emotion and detailed compositions. This series is considered one of Dürer's significant graphic works, showcasing his mastery of the woodcut medium.1

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Albrecht Dürer
First journey to Italy
…the earliest woodcuts of Dürer’s Great Passion series, also from about 1498. Nevertheless, the fact that Dürer was adopting a more modern conception, a conception inspired by classicism and humanism, is indicative of his basically Italian orientation. The woodcuts Samson and the Lion (c. 1497) and Hercules Conquering Cacus and…
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…the earliest woodcuts of Dürer’s Great Passion series, also from about 1498. Nevertheless, the fact that Dürer was adopting a more modern conception, a conception inspired by classicism and humanism, is indicative of his basically Italian orientation. The woodcuts Samson and the Lion (c. 1497) and Hercules Conquering Cacus and…
Read More