Samson Rending the Lion

Samson Rending the Lion by Albrecht Dürer is a monumental early woodcut created between 1492 and 1503. This dramatic print depicts the biblical hero Samson fulfilling one of his celebrated feats of strength from the Book of Judges. Executed during Dürer's formative years, the work demonstrates the growing sophistication of German printmaking at the turn of the 16th century, placing it firmly within the Northern Renaissance. The artist was pioneering new levels of detail and drama available through the woodcut medium, often used for disseminating religious and mythological subjects widely.

The composition is charged with violent energy, focusing intensely on the struggle between the powerful Men and the ferocious Lions. Dürer focuses on the critical moment Samson, identified by his heroic physique and dynamic pose, grips the jaws of the beast to tear it apart. Unlike earlier, often static, depictions of the subject, Dürer’s portrayal of Samson is highly kinetic, capturing the tension in the hero’s muscles and the raw fury of the animal. The careful lines inherent to the woodcut technique are utilized skillfully to render texture, especially in the lion’s mane and the flowing hair of the protagonist.

This exceptional example of Dürer’s graphic art highlights his early mastery of black-and-white contrast. As an influential print, the image circulated widely throughout Europe, cementing Dürer’s reputation as the preeminent graphic artist of his era. Because of its age and cultural importance, the work is often cited as a key example of historical art available for study, with high-quality prints sometimes entering the public domain for academic use. This significant piece is preserved today in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.