Durer woodblock Christs Entry Into Jerusalem from The Small Passion,18th/19th

Frame: 11 1/8" x 13"
Woodblock: 3 3/4" x 5"

(Source: albrechtdurer.org) Small Passion is a series of 37 woodcuts that Durer started after his return to Germany from Italy. He completed the series in 1510 and published them as a book in 1511. Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem was the first in the series.His aim was for the Passion to be the only subject within the prints. However, after completion, he chose to add six more prints that began with Adam and Eve. Doing so changes his emphasis from the Passion to the woes of making and the salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the central figure in Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem. He is the focus of attention through His ride to the gate of the city. He is surrounded by the crowd who plays a subordinate role as a supporting cast. An old man is placing a cloak before Christ as He is approaching the gate while another is holding a palm frond. In Christian art, the frond was associated with martyrs and their triumph over death, symbolizing victory in Ancient Rome. Because the fronds of the palm tree are always green, it symbolizes the promise of immortality. Halos in Christian art suggest the radiant light around heavenly beings and saints’ heads.

Good condition overall; slight discoloration to lower right corner of mat