St. Michael Fighting the Dragon, from The Apocalypse

St. Michael Fighting the Dragon, from The Apocalypse by Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528) is a foundational image of the Northern Renaissance and a defining work within the artist’s highly influential series illustrating the Book of Revelation. Created between 1496 and 1498, this powerful religious scene is rendered as a woodcut in black on buff laid paper, a technical choice that highlights Dürer’s revolutionary approach to printmaking. He single-handedly elevated the woodcut from a simple illustrative medium to a sophisticated art form capable of conveying complex narrative and intense emotional drama.

The subject depicts the Archangel Michael, armed and armored, casting the seven-headed Dragon down from heaven, a pivotal conflict described in the New Testament. This printmaking mastery, developed primarily in Germany, demonstrates Dürer’s profound understanding of Italian Renaissance principles, particularly his use of dynamic foreshortening and atmospheric perspective, integrated seamlessly with the dense, precise linear detail characteristic of the Gothic tradition.

This work’s commercial success and wide distribution across Europe helped solidify Dürer’s international reputation as a master printmaker in his late twenties. The clarity of the lines and the density of the cross-hatching provide a rich tonal range that was unprecedented for woodcuts of the era. The piece remains a cornerstone example of German Renaissance prints. This significant impression resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering crucial insight into the graphic arts of the period. Reflecting its historical importance, this artwork is widely accessible, with high-quality versions often available for study through public domain initiatives.