Artwork

Christ Taking Leave from His Mother

Christ Taking Leave from His Mother, by Albrecht Dürer, ink, 1510
Christ Taking Leave from His Mother, by Albrecht Dürer, ink, 1510

Christ Taking Leave from His Mother is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the British Museum.

About this work

Overview

Christ Taking Leave from His Mother is a woodcut on laid paper created by Albrecht Dürer around 1510.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut depicts a poignant scene of Jesus Christ bidding farewell to his mother, Mary. The figures are posed in a simple, emotionally charged composition, with Jesus standing and Mary seated, their gazes locked on each other.

Technique & Style

Executed in woodcut, a technique Dürer mastered, the print showcases the artist's ability to convey intimate emotion through a restrained yet expressive visual language.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Albrecht Dürer

Artist

Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.

British Museum

Museum

British Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: British Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.