Cain Killing Abel

Cain Killing Abel is a pivotal work created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This powerful image is rendered using the woodcut technique, demonstrating the German Renaissance master’s unparalleled draftsmanship within the medium of prints. Created during the height of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer maximized the expressive potential of the wood block, achieving detailed shading and texture often associated with fine line engraving. The piece is part of a series of large, dynamic prints Dürer produced in the 1510s, which solidified his reputation across Europe.

The work depicts the earliest recorded murder, illustrating the biblical confrontation between the sons of Adam and Eve: Cain and Abel. Dürer captures the climatic moment when Cain, driven by jealousy and anger over God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering, brutally attacks his unsuspecting brother. The dramatic intensity is heightened by the figures' idealized, muscular anatomy, reflecting Dürer's deep knowledge of Italian Renaissance figure studies and proportional systems. Unlike earlier medieval depictions, Dürer renders the fatal struggle with raw, dynamic energy, utilizing the stark contrasts inherent to the woodcut process to emphasize the violence of the scene.

This influential print belongs to the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key example of the artistic and intellectual ferment of the early 16th century. Dürer’s exceptional skill in producing high-quality woodcuts ensured the wide dissemination of his religious and moral themes throughout Europe, establishing him as one of history’s most important printmakers. Copies of this work continue to circulate and influence artists globally, often available today through initiatives to digitize important art in the public domain.