Abduction of Proserpine

The Abduction of Proserpine by Albrecht Dürer, dating from 1516, is a significant example of the artist’s groundbreaking engagement with the medium of etching. While Dürer is celebrated for his masterful woodcuts and copperplate engravings, his experiments with etching during the 1510s reveal an innovative approach to printmaking, exploiting the fluidity that the acid-based technique offered compared to the more rigid line of the burin. This print exemplifies the German Renaissance master’s technical versatility and his ongoing exploration of classical themes.

The scene illustrates the core mythological narrative of Pluto, god of the Underworld, violently seizing the maiden Proserpine to make her his queen. Dürer captures the heightened drama of the moment: the powerful figure of the god, one of the central men in the composition, dramatically sweeps the struggling, nude female figure onto his steed. The massive, powerfully muscled horses dominate the foreground, emphasizing the swift, irresistible force of the abduction. The composition balances the raw, kinetic energy of the escape with Dürer’s characteristic attention to anatomical detail, particularly evident in the depiction of the struggling Proserpine.

This print highlights Dürer’s ambition to interpret ancient Greco-Roman mythology through a distinctly Northern European Renaissance style. The intricate detail and expressive energy made these early etchings popular, contributing to Dürer’s immense reputation across Europe. As a work central to the study of Renaissance prints, this piece is preserved in the comprehensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. High-resolution images of this pivotal Dürer work are widely accessible through the public domain.