“The Resurrection” is a 1511 woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, a master of the Northern Renaissance. This piece is part of “The Small Passion” series and falls within the religious painting genre. Held in the British Museum in London, UK, the artwork showcases Dürer’s intricate and expressive style, which was a hallmark of his contributions to Renaissance art.
In the artwork, the central figure of Jesus Christ is depicted rising from the tomb, symbolizing His resurrection. Christ is shown with a halo around His head and is raising His hands bearing the stigmata, the wounds from His crucifixion. The guards who were supposed to watch over the tomb are portrayed in various states of shock and awe, with some collapsed on the ground and others recoiling in fear, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the event. The composition is dense with detail, employing strong contrasts of light and dark to create a dramatic effect, a technique known as chiaroscuro. Clouds streak across the sky, suggesting the divine intervention and power of the moment. Dürer’s woodcut is full of symbolic details and reflects the intense spirituality and careful craftsmanship of the Northern Renaissance era.