Andria, from "The Comedie of Terence", 19th century reprint

Andria, from "The Comedie of Terence", 19th century reprint by Albrecht Dürer is a significant work of Renaissance graphic arts, derived from a design that originated during the master’s prolific period between 1485 and 1528. Although this particular impression is a 19th-century reprint, it faithfully captures the intricate detail and narrative drama of Dürer’s original woodcut.

Dürer, the foremost figure of the German Renaissance, was instrumental in transforming the production of prints, utilizing the woodcut medium to disseminate sophisticated, high-quality imagery across Europe. The composition illustrates a scene derived from the classical Roman comedy Andria by Terence, a popular source of artistic inspiration during the Renaissance. The dense theatrical setting is realized through detailed architectural Buildings that frame the action.

The foreground is dominated by groups of Men, dressed in period costume, engaged in an earnest or potentially antagonistic exchange crucial to the play’s plot. The presence of Swords visible on several figures suggests a context of authority or potential conflict, emphasizing the dramatic tension inherent in the narrative. Dürer’s mastery is evident in the precise rendering of form and shadow, even through the relatively demanding constraints of the woodcut technique.

The enduring popularity and technical brilliance of the original design necessitated later reproductions, ensuring that this influential work remained in circulation. Today, this example of historical prints resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). As a historically significant piece of graphic arts, the composition is widely studied, contributing to the available body of public domain works from the early modern period.