The Babylonian Whore

"The Babylonian Whore" by Albrecht Dürer is a powerful example of the revolutionary detail he brought to the medium of the woodcut. Created during the period spanning 1485 to 1528, this seminal print addresses a central theme of eschatology and religious warning derived from the Book of Revelation (17:1-6).

As a master of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer utilized the complex process of the woodcut print to disseminate profound biblical narratives to a broad audience across Europe. This particular image depicts the infamous woman seated upon the seven-headed beast, symbolizing the great corruption prophesied. Dürer renders the scene with dramatic intensity, contrasting the celestial warnings with the reactions of earthly figures. The composition includes numerous men and women who are shown observing, worshiping, or fleeing the prophetic vision.

The artist's technical innovation transformed the woodcut from a simple graphic medium into a sophisticated vehicle for complex visual storytelling. The intense detail and dramatic rendering of form distinguish this work among the most recognized religious prints of the era. This historically significant piece is classified as a print and remains a foundational feature of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural impact, high-quality images of this woodcut are frequently found in public domain archives, enabling widespread research into Dürer’s mastery of line and narrative structure.