Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department will encounter *Engraved Copies of The Little Passion*, a series of intricate engravings attributed to Abraham Waesberge after the renowned German artist Albrecht Dürer. Produced around the 17th century (date not specified), these small plates—measuring approximately 5 x 3 13/16 inches (12.7 x 9.7 cm) each—replicate Dürer's seminal woodcut series *The Little Passion* from 1509–1511. This biblical narrative unfolds through vivid scenes of Christ's suffering, featuring elements like soldiers with spears, armored men, and the central figure of Christ, evoking the raw drama of the Passion. Dürer, a master of the Northern Renaissance, revolutionized printmaking with his precise woodcuts, blending intricate line work, emotional depth, and symbolic detail to make religious art accessible to a wide audience. Waesberge, a Dutch engraver and publisher, faithfully copied these in the finer medium of engraving, which allowed for subtler tonal gradations and sharper contrasts on copper plates. Such reproductions extended Dürer's influence across Europe, fueling the era's devotion to Passion imagery amid the Reformation's religious fervor. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1947, this series highlights printmaking's role in democratizing art—affordable yet profound, these engravings invited personal meditation on faith, suffering, and redemption, much like Dürer's originals that captivated collectors for centuries.

About the Artist

Abraham Waesberge|Albrecht Dürer (German|Dutch) · 1471 | –1528 |

German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg|Dutch