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

Joachim and the Angel, from "The Life of the Virgin" is a significant woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1504. This sheet is part of Dürer’s iconic series, "The Life of the Virgin," which comprises nineteen individual prints and a title page, showcasing the artist's mastery of the demanding woodcut medium during the height of the Northern Renaissance.

The narrative depicted illustrates a pivotal moment in the life of the Virgin Mary's father. Following his rejection from the Temple due to his childlessness, Joachim, a devout man, retreated into the solitude of the wilderness among his shepherds. Dürer renders the scene with profound emotional weight, placing Joachim amidst his flock of sheep as the divine messenger, the Angel, appears to him with the prophetic news of his wife Anna’s miraculous pregnancy. The contrast between the grounded figure of the old shepherd and the ethereal visitor delivers the dramatic core of the story.

Dürer’s execution of this print revolutionized graphic arts. Unlike many contemporary woodcuts, he achieved an unprecedented level of detail and textural richness through careful cross-hatching and sophisticated line work, transforming the medium from a simple illustrative tool into a major artistic statement. This technical skill greatly contributed to Dürer’s fame and the popularity of the series. These accessible religious narratives circulated widely as affordable prints throughout Europe. Many sheets from this series are now considered hallmarks of German Renaissance graphic arts. The work currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and, due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of the print are frequently available through the public domain.