The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, from "The Life of the Virgin" (ca. 1503, Met-Objekt 289)
Original title: The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, from "The Life of the Virgin"
kurzbeschreibung
Created around 1503, this woodcut by Albrecht Dürer belongs to the series 'The Life of the Virgin'. It depicts the young Mary being led to the temple. The print circulated in large numbers and combines the biblical narrative with a setting of architecture and nature.
Description
A hall supported by columns with an arched opening reveals trees and a mountain beyond. On the left, men in contemporary dress gather, identifiable as priests or elders by their staffs and head coverings. Opposite them on the right stand women and girls in long robes, escorting Mary and carrying flowers. In another space at the rear, a figure holds a lance and carries a stag on his back—a reference to protection or patronage.
Context
Between 1502 and 1511, Dürer worked on the woodcut series 'The Life of the Virgin'; the early sheets such as this one date from around 1503. The project was part of a larger undertaking that also included the 'Great Passion' and the 'Apocalypse', and it addressed a broad public. In the early sixteenth century, woodcuts appeared on the market as single sheets or in book form, ensuring the wide dissemination of Dürer's art. The scene follows the apocryphal tradition that Mary was brought to the temple as a child.
Impact
The dense linework and clear structure convey a calm, solemn mood. Architecture and open landscape are held in a tension that gives the print spatial depth and draws the viewer into the event. The bearing of the figures appears dignified and emphasizes the religious content of the moment.
Technique
Auf dem Bogen zeigt sich der Holzschnitt in klaren, präzisen Linien, die Dürers sichere Beherrschung dieser Technik verraten und dem Blatt seine gleichmäßige, monochrome Wirkung geben. Das Papier trägt die gedruckten Linien sichtbar als Konturen, die das Bildfeld von 11 3/4 x 8 3/16 Zoll füllen; das gesamte Blatt misst 17 5/16 x 12 Zoll.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)