Saint Jerome by the Pollard Willow

Saint Jerome by the Pollard Willow is a powerful print created by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1512. This small but technically sophisticated work is executed using drypoint on laid paper, showcasing the artist’s unparalleled mastery of graphic media during the height of the Northern Renaissance. Dürer was deeply concerned with depicting the spiritual life of Saint Jerome, the scholar and translator of the Bible, often positioning him in spaces that emphasize contemplation and intellectual rigor.

Unlike the precise, sharp lines achieved through traditional engraving, Dürer utilized the drypoint technique here, which involves scratching directly into the metal plate with a needle. This process throws up a burr of displaced metal that holds ink, resulting in rich, soft, and slightly velvety lines that are visible throughout the composition, particularly in the deep shadows and the texture of the foreground. However, because the burr is delicate, drypoint plates wear quickly, making exceptional early impressions of this 1512 piece highly sought after by collectors and institutions.

The artwork places the saint within a dense, naturalistic setting, underscoring his isolation as he engages in scholarly pursuits. The specific inclusion of the pollard willow in the title details a common form of managed tree used in European landscapes, adding a specific realism to the environment while serving as a prominent compositional element. Produced during the active period spanning 1501 to 1550, Dürer’s approach reflects the intense detail and psychological depth characteristic of high-quality German prints from this era. Today, as a foundational work of Renaissance graphic art, this impression resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, forming an important part of the museum’s publicly available inventory. Works of this age often enter the public domain, allowing broader access to Dürer’s profound artistic legacy.