Basic Information

Historical Context

A woodcut from Dürer's Large Passion series depicting the betrayal and arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas identifies Christ with a kiss while soldiers move to seize him. [Inferred from Dürer Catalog] Visual Description Christ stands calmly as Judas kisses him. Soldiers with swords, spears, and lanterns converge on the group. Peter draws his sword, cutting off a servant's ear. The garden is dark and dramatic, with trees and rocks framing the action. The contrast between Christ's calm and the soldiers' aggression is stark. Artistic Analysis Dürer's Betrayal combines dramatic action with narrative clarity. The multiple figures — Christ, Judas, Peter, the soldiers, the fleeing disciples — are organized into a coherent visual narrative that guides the viewer's eye through the chaotic scene. The nocturnal setting, rendered through dense hatching, creates a powerful atmosphere of danger and spiritual darkness.