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

Art Historical Context

In the early 16th century, Altdorfer, a leading figure of the Danube School in the Northern Renaissance, crafted *The Fall of Man* as part of his series *The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion Christ*. This diminutive woodcut, measuring just 3 1/8 × 2 3/16 inches, captures the biblical moment of original sin: Adam and Eve succumbing to temptation from the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Altdorfer's shines in the intricate details crammed into such a tiny format, a testament to the woodcut medium's potential for fine-line precision and mass reproduction during the Renaissance. Woodcuts like this one were revolutionary, allowing religious narratives to reach everyday devotees beyond elite paintings. Altdorfer, renowned for integrating dramatic landscapes into religious scenes, likely infused this print with his signature naturalism, heightening the drama of humanity's fall. As the opening to a redemptive series linking Eden's tragedy to Christ's salvation, it underscores Christian theology's core themes of sin and grace. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Rogers Fund, 1920), this rare survival invites us to marvel at how a small sheet once illuminated faith for the faithful, blending artistry with profound spiritual storytelling.

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...