The Holy Family with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne
Original title: The Holy Family with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne
kurzbeschreibung
This woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, made in 1511, presents the Holy Family flanked by Saints Joachim and Anna. The print is in black and white on paper and measures 23.3 by 15.6 cm.
Description
Mary sits with the Christ Child on her lap; to her left stands Joachim, to her right Anna. Traditional robes envelop the figures, whose poses remain calm and nearly motionless. Trees and a house suggest a rural setting. The layout is symmetrical: the Holy Family at the center, the two saints at the sides. Even light fills the sheet, as was typical for woodcuts of that era.
Context
In 1511, during a period of intense artistic activity in Nuremberg, Dürer produced this cut. As a recognized master of the woodcut, he was then devoted to several series, including the Life of the Virgin. The motif of the Holy Family with Joachim and Anna enjoyed great popularity in late medieval and Renaissance piety, for it emphasized the extended kinship of Jesus. Iconographic conventions that show Mary as the enthroned Mother of God shape the scene.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and the calm poses create a solemn, devotional mood. Clear lines of the woodcut yield a precise, high-contrast appearance that draws the eye to the figures. At the same time, the rural setting conveys closeness and familiarity.
Technique
The scene is arranged across the sheet with the Holy Family at the centre and the two saints flanking them, so the symmetrical composition sits evenly within the rectangular format. Fine, carefully worked lines and hatching structure the robes and background, while the unprinted areas of the paper are left to stand for the light.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)