The Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin

The Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin is a foundational work of Northern Renaissance printmaking created by Albrecht Dürer in 1510. Executed as a woodcut, this piece exemplifies Dürer's extraordinary skill in manipulating the relief medium to achieve detail and dramatic effect previously associated primarily with engraving. This work, categorized as a print, highlights the German artist’s pivotal role in elevating the status of printmaking from simple illustration to high art during the critical period spanning 1501 to 1550.

The iconography centers on the culmination of the Virgin Mary's life. Having been assumed bodily into Heaven, she is shown kneeling before the Holy Trinity—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (represented by the dove)—to receive her crown as the Queen of Heaven. Dürer structures the highly detailed scene dynamically, framing the central divine event with dense, swirling rings of clouds and numerous cherubim, contrasting the radiant light above with the heavier forms beneath the Virgin’s feet.

Dürer demonstrated unprecedented technical mastery in this medium. While earlier woodcuts traditionally utilized robust, thick lines, he employed sophisticated cross-hatching and remarkably fine white lines cut into the block to suggest complex modulations of tone, light, and texture. This technical innovation allowed his highly detailed religious prints to circulate widely across Europe, solidifying his reputation. This seminal historical woodcut is maintained within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a preeminent example of early 16th-century German graphic arts.