The Circumcision

The Circumcision is a powerful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer between 1504 and 1505, a period marking the peak of the German Renaissance master's printmaking career. This print is generally considered part of Dürer's series depicting the Life of the Virgin, though it focuses on a key moment in the early life of Christ.

The work exemplifies Dürer's revolutionary approach to the woodcut medium, transforming it from a rudimentary method into a highly expressive art form. The artist achieved unprecedented detail, complex linear work, and a wide tonal range that rivals the sophistication typically reserved for copper engraving. This technical mastery cemented Dürer’s reputation across Europe as the leading graphic artist of his era, defining the standard for printmaking originating from Germany.

The subject depicts the obligatory religious ritual performed on the infant Christ eight days after his birth. Dürer’s masterful compositional skill organizes numerous figures within a constricted architectural space, effectively emphasizing both the solemnity of the religious event and the crowded, intimate setting necessary for the ceremony.

As a pioneer in the mass production of prints, Dürer ensured his powerful visual narratives reached a vast audience across the continent. The enduring quality and wide dissemination of his artistic output mean that works like this woodcut often fall within the public domain, making them essential resources for the study of Renaissance art history. This finely preserved impression resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.