The Descent from the Cross

Dürer’s Small Woodcut Passion, consisting of thirty-seven scenes, actually encompasses much more than Christ’s suffering on the cross: it depicts the whole story of man’s salvation, from the Fall to the Last Judgement. In this composition, The Descent from the Cross , Dürer’s abiding interest in representing the human form is evident in the complex figural interaction between the bowed, lifeless body of Christ and the taut figure seen from the back who strains upward to receive it. Tight framing and close perspective encourage the viewer to experience the work as a participant in the drama. The Small Passion woodcuts were published together as a book intended for a popular audience.