The Second Knot. Interlaced Roundel with an Amazon Shield in its Center
Original title: “The Second Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with an Amazon Shield in its Center
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer's woodcut from before 1521 presents a round medallion built from countless interlaced lines. At its centre a simple heart-shaped emblem sits, enclosed by a dense spiral knot. The design appears as white lines against a black ground.
Description
A circular, many-layered pattern of interwoven lines fills the image. The core is a plain heart-shaped symbol surrounded by a tight spiral weave. White lines stand out sharply from the black background, creating strong contrast. Four floral motifs are set around the outer edge of the circle, woven into the knotwork. The layout is symmetrical, the execution detailed and precise.
Context
Dürer made this sheet before 1521, during a period when he was deeply engaged with ornamental and decorative forms. It belongs to a group of six knot prints based on designs by Leonardo da Vinci. Dürer added his own motifs to the Italian models and issued them as woodcuts. Such prints often served craftsmen as pattern sheets.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and exact linework convey a calm, almost meditative mood. The strong light-dark contrast is immediately apparent and emphasizes the ornamental delicacy. The complex entanglement invites the eye to trace the lines.
Technique
The dense, interwoven lines of the knot pattern are rendered as white lines reserved from the black background, producing a stark contrast that defines every curve and loop with precision. This white-line cutting allows the intricate spirals and the four floral motifs at the circle's edge to remain sharply distinct, shaping the sheet's symmetrical, detailed appearance.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)