Holy Family with the Butterfly

Holy Family with the Butterfly is a significant early engraving by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, created circa 1490-1500. This piece showcases Dürer’s rapidly developing skill in copperplate printmaking, a medium he would profoundly redefine in the coming decade. Produced early in his career, the work captures the artist’s precise linear execution and his dedication to naturalism, characteristics central to the Northern European tradition.

The composition centers on the Virgin Mary supporting the Christ Child, who gazes toward the viewer. Although religious narratives like the Holy Family were common subjects, Dürer distinguishes this piece through his detailed setting and symbolic elements. The titular butterfly, or sometimes identified as a moth, is prominently featured, often interpreted in Christian iconography as a powerful symbol of Resurrection and redemption. Through meticulous cross-hatching and varied line work, Dürer achieves a remarkable sense of light, shadow, and textural depth, demonstrating why his prints became highly valued across Europe.

Created in Germany at a time when mass-produced prints were transforming artistic dissemination, Dürer’s engravings provided widespread access to sophisticated imagery. This impression of Holy Family with the Butterfly highlights the technical virtuosity of the artist and remains a vital example of Renaissance graphic arts. The work resides in the extensive collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it contributes to the institution’s holdings of important early public domain prints.