The Martyrdom of Saint John, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition
Original title: The Martyrdom of Saint John, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer's woodcut from 1511 portrays the beheading of John the Baptist. The print belongs to the Latin edition of the Apocalypse and presents the execution amid a dense crowd of figures.
Description
John sits in a basket held by an executioner; around him press other figures with tools. The bystanders display various postures and actions—some watch, others intervene. Buildings and trees define the setting. The layout is meticulous, gathering numerous figures into a tight space.
Context
The woodblock was made for the 1511 Latin edition of the Apocalypse, which Dürer had first published in German in 1498. John the Baptist is regarded as the forerunner of Christ, and his martyrdom is interpreted typologically in the Book of Revelation. Dürer worked in Nuremberg as an independent artist and turned to biblical subjects.
Impact
The tangled mass of figures creates an oppressive atmosphere that brings out the cruelty of the execution. Sharp contours and strong contrasts of light and dark give the image a dramatic immediacy that draws the viewer into the event.
Technique
On this sheet, fine lines and hatching in black printing ink model light and shadow across the paper. The monochrome impression is enlivened by the grain of the wood and varying printing pressure, allowing precise reproduction of detail.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)