The Fifth Knot
Original title: “The Fifth Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with Seven Six-pointed Stars
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer made the woodcut 'The Fifth Knot' before 1521. A circular medallion of interlaced lines encloses seven six-pointed stars that merge into an ornamental weave.
Description
Seven six-pointed stars sit inside the circular field, embedded in a web of interlocking lines. These spiral outward and link the stars through their branches. Leaf and vine motifs complete the design, following the same interlaced style. Black on white, without shading, with strong contrasts.
Context
Created before 1521, the print belongs to Dürer's 'Knot' series, which draws on Islamic ornament patterns. In the Renaissance, such designs served as valued models for crafts and decoration. Dürer likely issued the series as pattern sheets for artisans and artists.
Impact
The symmetrical yet dynamic lines give the medallion a high decorative precision. The stark black-and-white contrast emphasizes the geometric order and evokes a calm, almost meditative mood.
Technique
The uniformly fine black lines, rendered without cross-hatching or graduated shading, stand out against the white ground as clear, continuous strokes. Their even thickness and unmodulated contrast define the interlocking roundel and its seven six-pointed stars through pure linear articulation. Light and dark arise solely from the presence or absence of these lines, so the pattern's complexity is carried entirely by line.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)