The Four Angels Holding the Winds, from "The Apocalypse", German Edition

The Four Angels Holding the Winds, from "The Apocalypse", German Edition by Albrecht Dürer, dating from 1498, is a pivotal work within the artist’s groundbreaking Apocalypse series. Rendered as a highly detailed woodcut, this early masterpiece demonstrates Dürer’s revolutionary approach to the print medium. At a time when woodcuts were often considered merely illustrative, Dürer elevated the technique to a sophisticated artistic form, characterized by intricate line work and powerful narrative drama.

The composition directly references Revelation 7:1, illustrating the moment when the four angels, seen as imposing human figures, stand atop the world actively restraining the devastating forces of the wind. Dürer depicts these spiritual beings with billowing drapery that reflects the elemental chaos they control. Below, a complex landscape is populated by small human figures, anticipating the imminent judgment signaled by the Apocalypse. The religious context is reinforced by the presence of the Cross, symbolically placed to affirm the divine structure of the unfolding end-time events.

The publication of the Apocalypse series in 1498, simultaneously released in both Latin and German editions, cemented Dürer’s reputation as the foremost graphic artist in Europe. The accessibility of the prints allowed his dramatic and influential vision to circulate rapidly, deeply impacting the visual culture of the German Renaissance. This specific impression of the woodcut is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given the age and historical significance of the piece, high-quality prints and reproductions of Dürer’s work are commonly accessible today through public domain resources.