Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, from The Life of the Virgin

The monumental woodcut, Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin, from The Life of the Virgin, was created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, in 1510. This impressive work, executed in black ink on tan laid paper, is the culmination of Dürer's revolutionary approach to the print medium, proving that woodcuts could achieve the subtlety and detail previously reserved for engraving.

This piece belongs to the celebrated series The Life of the Virgin, which established the German master as the foremost graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance. While the Assumption of the Virgin was a widely depicted subject, Dürer combined it directly with her heavenly Coronation, emphasizing Mary's role as Queen of Heaven. The Virgin, centrally placed on a crescent moon, is raised by a host of vigorous putti and crowned by the Holy Trinity above, fulfilling a crucial narrative of Christian iconography.

Dürer’s technical skill revolutionized the production of prints in Germany, allowing complex theological narratives to be widely disseminated across Europe. His handling of line and shadow within the woodcut technique, particularly in rendering the texture of the clouds and the luminosity surrounding the Virgin, gives the scene a powerful dramatic intensity. This original impression is held in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As Dürer's works are now in the public domain, this important contribution to German printmaking remains highly studied and influential today.