“Small Passion Title page” is a woodcut illustration by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1511 during the Northern Renaissance. It is part of a series titled “The Small Passion” and is currently housed in the British Museum in London, UK. The artwork serves as an illustration within this series.
The woodcut depicts a man seated, appearing to be in a pensive or sorrowful state. The figure, crowned with a radiating halo, is presumed to be Jesus Christ, depicted during the Passion—a theme commonly represented in Christian art. He is sitting on a stone bench with a halo around his head that radiates light. The character’s body language, with one hand placed on the cheek, communicates a grim mood consistent with the themes of the Passion. The intricate detailing of the figure’s muscular anatomy and the textures of the hair and thorns further exemplify Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium. The background is relatively simple, allowing the viewer’s focus to remain entirely on the central figure and the emotional weight of the scene. Above the figure, there is elaborate Gothic script, which adds to the decorative and historical context of the artwork.
