Joachim and the Angel, from "The Life of the Virgin"

Joachim and the Angel, from "The Life of the Virgin" by Albrecht Dürer, dated 1504, is a pivotal example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. Executed as a woodcut, this influential piece is one of nineteen scenes Dürer created for his celebrated series documenting the life of the Virgin Mary.

The scene depicts the moment St. Joachim, a pious man who has retreated to the wilderness following his expulsion from the temple for being childless, receives the annunciation from a celestial visitor. Joachim, represented as an aged man, is seated with his staff resting nearby, contemplating his situation. The composition is grounded by the presence of a loyal dog curled securely at the saint’s feet, a common Dürer motif that provides emotional weight and narrative detail. An angel, descending dynamically from the clouds, conveys the crucial news that Joachim's wife, Anne, will bear a child, restoring his standing and setting the stage for the New Testament narrative.

Dürer masterfully utilized the woodcut technique to achieve intricate detail previously associated primarily with metal engraving. The dense cross-hatching and varied line weight in this historical print allow for complex modeling of light and shadow, expertly defining the textures of the stone walls and the folds of the men's robes. This series cemented Dürer's reputation as a powerful innovator in prints whose work reached a wide European audience. Today, high-quality images of this work are often available through public domain initiatives, aiding scholarly study. This exceptional example of Dürer's craftsmanship resides within the comprehensive holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.