Maria
1516
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
118; 74
About this artwork
Maria met lang krullend haar en een sterrenkroon op het hoofd, staand op een maansikkel, omgeven door een stralenkrans, het Christuskind op de linkerarm, een scepter in de rechterhand.
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Dürer's *Maria* (1516) is a exquisite small-scale engraving, measuring just 118 mm by 74 mm, exemplifying the Northern Renaissance master's unparalleled skill in printmaking. Created during the late phase of Dürer's career, this work captures the profound religious devotion of early 16th-century Europe, on the cusp of the Reformation. Dürer, a German artist renowned for blending meticulous observation with symbolic depth, elevated engraving from mere reproduction to high art, allowing intricate details to reach a wide audience beyond wealthy patrons. The image depicts the Virgin Mary...
About the Artist
Albrecht Dürer · 1471–1528
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) stands as the preeminent figure of the Northern Renaissance and arguably the most influential artist in the history of printmaking. Born in Nuremberg on May 21, 1471, and dying in the same city on April 6, 1528, Dürer revolutionized the status of the artist in Northern Europe, transforming printmaking from a commercial craft into an independent fine art and establishing ...