Samson Rending the Lion

Samson Rending the Lion by Albrecht Dürer, executed as a woodcut between 1497 and 1498, stands as a pivotal early example of the German Renaissance master’s ambitious approach to the graphic arts. This monumental composition demonstrates Dürer’s revolutionary technique in the woodcut medium, moving past simplistic line work to incorporate finer detail, complex shading, and greater tonal variation than previously common in European prints of the time. This innovation allowed the artist to achieve a striking sculptural quality in the figures.

The work dramatically captures the Old Testament narrative from the Book of Judges (14:5-6), depicting the moment Samson, traveling toward Timnah, is suddenly attacked by a formidable young lion. The hero’s powerful, muscular rendering highlights his divinely granted strength as he forcibly tears the jaws of the struggling animal. Dürer’s careful attention to the powerful anatomy of both the biblical hero and the wild Lions establishes the narrative’s intense dramatic tension.

Dürer produced this large-format woodcut near the height of his career, establishing himself internationally not merely as a painter, but as the premier designer of widely distributed graphic works. Such early modern prints allowed his compositions to reach a broad audience across the continent, contributing significantly to his burgeoning fame. This exceptional impression, characteristic of Dürer's commitment to clarity and detail, is housed within the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to the historical age and significance of the graphic arts tradition exemplified by this work, high-resolution reproductions of the piece are frequently found in the public domain.