The Birth of the Virgin, from "The Life of the Virgin" (copy)

The woodcut print, The Birth of the Virgin, from "The Life of the Virgin" (copy), is based upon the celebrated narrative series originally conceived by Albrecht Dürer. Although produced over a wide time span potentially ending as late as 1917, this piece faithfully replicates the intricate composition and technical precision that characterized Dürer’s graphic production during the Northern Renaissance. As a foundational German artist, Dürer maximized the potential of the woodcut medium, using robust lines and defined areas of light and shadow to create highly reproducible prints that broadened access to religious imagery across Europe.

The scene depicts the domestic miracle surrounding the birth of the Virgin Mary, a frequently illustrated subject in late medieval and Renaissance art. The composition focuses on Saint Anne, the Virgin’s mother, traditionally shown resting in a canopied bed, while various women and attendants minister to her and the newborn child. Dürer’s original design is masterful in its ability to integrate this profoundly spiritual event into a complex, recognizable architectural interior filled with people and intimate details. The narrative is enhanced by the subtle inclusion of angels, blending heavenly participation into the otherwise earthly environment.

The original The Life of the Virgin series solidified Dürer’s reputation as the most important master of German prints. The success and widespread appeal of these woodcut prints inevitably led to the creation of numerous later copies, allowing his influential style to reach far beyond his lifetime. This impression, classified specifically as a print, renders the moment of the Virgin’s birth through the detailed, expressive linework typical of the original Renaissance model. This important depiction of the Virgin Mary's early life is held within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.