Artwork
The Lamentation
The Lamentation 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
Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut titled *The Lamentation*, executed around 1510, presents a conventional Christian scene of Christ’s body laid out after the crucifixion. The composition includes the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene, and a few unnamed followers, each positioned around the central figure.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment of mourning that follows the crucifixion, emphasizing the emotional response of the witnesses. Mary’s kneeling posture and anguished expression convey maternal grief, while the varied gestures of the surrounding figures suggest a collective contemplation of loss and redemption.
Technique & Style
Rendered as a woodcut on laid paper, Dürer employs delicate line work to model shadows and surface textures, achieving a sense of depth within the medium’s constraints. The fine incisions allow intricate detail, while the reproducible nature of the print facilitated broader distribution among early‑sixteenth‑century audiences.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1510s, the print reflects Dürer’s mature period of religious output. As a work intended for multiple impressions, it circulated widely in his workshop and among collectors, contributing to the spread of his devotional imagery across Europe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
