The Entombment, from "The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ"

Art Historical Context

Albrecht Altdorfer *The Entombment*, around 1513, is a exquisite woodcut from his series *The Fall and Salvation Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ*. This tiny print (just 3 1/16 × 2 3/16 inches) captures a poignant from Christ's Passion: the solemn lowering of his body into the tomb, surrounded by grieving figures like the Virgin Mary and disciples. As a key figure in the German Renaissance and the Danube School, Altdorfer infused his works with dramatic landscapes and intricate details, even in miniature formats like this one. Woodcuts were revolutionary in the early 16th century, allowing artists to produce affordable, reproducible images for devotional books and broadsheets, spreading religious narratives to a wider audience beyond the elite. Altdorfer's mastery shines in the fine lines and textures he achieved on woodblocks—notice the delicate folds of drapery, expressive faces, and subtle shading that evoke deep emotion despite the black-and-white medium. This technique highlighted his innovative blend of narrative storytelling and naturalistic observation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund in 1920), *The Entombment* exemplifies how Northern European printmaking elevated everyday piety into high art, inviting viewers to meditate on themes of sacrifice and redemption. A gem for any visitor exploring Renaissance devotion!

About the Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer · 1475–1538

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...