Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate

Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate is a masterful woodcut created by the celebrated German artist Albrecht Dürer in 1504. The print belongs to a highly productive period, falling within the years 1501 to 1550, when Dürer revolutionized printmaking across Europe. Unlike many contemporary artists who relied on skilled craftsmen to cut their blocks, Dürer exercised rigorous control over his designs, transforming the woodcut medium from a simple means of illustration into a vehicle for profound artistic expression.

The subject, depicting the meeting of Saint Joachim and Saint Anna at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem, is drawn from the Golden Legend, an apocryphal source critical to Northern European devotional imagery. This emotionally charged reunion followed Joachim’s period of exile and traditionally marked the conception of the Virgin Mary. Dürer focuses the viewer's attention on the tender embrace of the elderly couple, using deep, precise lines characteristic of his mature graphic style to render the volume of their heavy robes and the intensity of their connection.

This important work showcases Dürer’s technical facility in exploiting the contrasts inherent in the woodcut technique, creating areas of dramatic shadow and texture that define the monumental structure of the gate itself. The piece provides crucial insight into early Renaissance graphic arts. Held today in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, this particular impression contributes to the understanding of Dürer’s influential output of prints. As one of the most significant works of its era, it is frequently reproduced, often made available through public domain resources, cementing its status as a cornerstone of German Renaissance art history.