Illustration from "Revelations Sancte Birgitte"

Illustration from "Revelations Sancte Birgitte" by Albrecht Dürer is a significant German Renaissance print created in 1502. Executed as a detailed woodcut, the piece exemplifies Dürer's central role in elevating printmaking from a craft to a high art form. The early 16th century marked a pivotal time for printed media, allowing religious and scholarly texts, like the mystical revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden, to disseminate widely across Europe.

While many contemporary artists used woodcuts primarily for simple illustration, Dürer pushed the medium to new technical limits, achieving remarkable detail and tonal variation that often rivaled copper engraving. This particular work likely served as one of many illustrations intended for the published Latin edition of St. Bridget’s influential spiritual writings. The visual clarity and dramatic composition characteristic of Dürer ensured that the theological meaning within the "Revelations" was communicated powerfully and directly to a broad audience. The ability to mass-produce such sophisticated prints revolutionized how people consumed both art and religious literature during the Reformation era.

This important print remains a cornerstone example of early Northern European printmaking. Today, the work is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given its age and cultural significance, the illustration is frequently available within the public domain, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study high-quality reproductions and utilize prints of this celebrated masterwork for educational and research purposes.