Following his crucifixion, Jesus was removed from the cross by his friends and followers and buried. Here the men gently lower him down into a tomb while women mourn behind them. In the lower left corner, his crown of thorns has been cast aside. Albrecht Dürer creates a claustrophobic composition by crowding so many figures in such a small space, which not only emphasizes the number of Jesus’s followers but also includes the viewer in this intimate scene of friends and family.

This composition contains a multitude of lines applied with varied densities, ranging from short flecks and dashes to sweeping curves and rigid straight lines. Dürer is able to capture the rich array of textures, including flesh, hair, fabric, stone, grass, and bark, demonstrating his mastery of the medium.

Excerpt from

Laura Sevelis, DMA label copy, 2015

• Inside Albrecht Dürer's Studio- Engraving
  Watch this demonstration and explanation of the engraving process created by the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute for the exhibition, The Strange World of Albrecht Dürer (November 14, 2010- March 13, 2011).