Life of the Virgin: The Rest in Egypt by Albrecht Dürer, created between 1504 and 1505, is a masterful woodcut that exemplifies the technical brilliance of German Renaissance printmaking. The work belongs to Dürer’s influential series dedicated to the life of the Virgin Mary, a project that cemented his status as a leading graphic artist across Europe.
Executed as a relief print, the medium demanded meticulous carving and control, allowing Dürer to render complex textures and achieve subtle tonal variations rarely seen in the woodcuts of the period. The composition depicts the intimate biblical episode where the Holy Family pauses during their flight into Egypt, finding respite in a lush, idealized landscape. Mary cradles the infant Christ while Joseph, in the background, attends to practical duties near a cluster of trees. Dürer skillfully employs dense cross-hatching and varied line weights to create depth and shadow, pushing the boundaries of graphic arts capabilities in early 16th-century Germany.
The widespread dissemination of these high-quality prints played a crucial role in the development of art history, making religious iconography accessible to a broad audience. Due to their historical significance, many examples from the Life of the Virgin series have entered the public domain, allowing for the study and appreciation of Dürer’s genius. This specific impression is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, contributing to the museum’s important holdings of Northern European master prints.
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