“Man of Sorrows by the Column (Engraved Passion)” is an engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1509. This artwork falls under the Northern Renaissance art movement and has religious themes. The medium used for this piece is engraving, which was a common practice for prints during the Renaissance period, allowing for detailed and precise imagery. The current location of this artwork is in a private collection.
In the engraving, there is a central figure interpreted as Jesus Christ, standing slightly bent with a sorrowful expression. He is bound to a column, with the instruments of his Passion—including the crown of thorns on his head and a scourge bundled at the column. His body bears the marks of his suffering; the wounds and the crown of thorns are prominently depicted. To the left, we see two figures, one of which is likely Pontius Pilate, characterized by his traditional clothing and posture suggesting a figure of authority, while the other looks on with a pained or perhaps sympathetic expression. The level of detail in the work is very high, indicating Dürer’s skillful use of the engraving technique to create texture and depth, from the individual strands of hair and beard to the folds of the drapery and the patterns on the column and floor. The date “1509” and Dürer’s monogram “AD” are inscribed at the top, signifying the artist’s authorship and the year of creation. The composition successfully conveys a powerful emotional narrative that is reflective of the Northern Renaissance’s focus on religious subjects and human emotion.
