Four Naked Women

Four Naked Women by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1497, is a seminal work in the history of prints. Executed using the demanding intaglio medium of engraving, this early masterpiece demonstrates Dürer’s rapid development as a master printmaker. Unlike his previous work in woodcut, engraving allowed for remarkable textural detail and tonal subtlety, showcasing the artist’s precise control over the burin, establishing him as the foremost graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance.

The composition features four distinct female nudes clustered closely together, creating an intimate yet geometrically rigid grouping. Scholars have long debated the figures' specific identities, suggesting possible allegorical interpretations such as the Four Temperaments, the Four Seasons, or perhaps the classical goddesses Juno, Minerva, Venus, and Ceres, though clear mythological attributes are absent. The figure standing centrally holds a small orb or apple, which may reference the Apple of Discord or the Sphere of Earth, connecting the scene to the burgeoning interest in humanist studies prevalent during the 15th century.

This piece marks a pivotal moment where Dürer synthesized Italian Renaissance ideals regarding idealized anatomical study with Northern European complexity. The work’s radical subject matter, focusing purely on the female form without overt religious or narrative justification, solidified Dürer's reputation throughout Europe. This exceptionally well-preserved impression of the engraving is housed within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it stands as a cornerstone example of High Renaissance German prints.