The Four Witches (Four Naked Women)

The Four Witches (Four Naked Women) by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1497, is a foundational piece in the history of German Renaissance prints. Executed in copperplate engraving, the work demonstrates Dürer’s emerging mastery over the burin, allowing him to achieve extraordinary detail and textural variations in his compositions. This early print, created when Dürer was still establishing his distinctive style, marks a pivotal moment in the output of the Nuremberg master.

The subject matter focuses on four nude female figures clustered closely together, their bodies often interpreted as symbols of vanity or lust, reflecting contemporary anxieties about female power and sin. Hanging centrally above them is a mysterious sphere marked "1497," a visual signature that anchors the date of the work. A small, winged devil or demon, whose face is visible peering through a doorway, underscores the sinister undertones of the gathering, linking the figures directly to nascent ideas of witchcraft prevalent across Germany at the close of the 15th century. This important impression is housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Dürer’s profound influence on subsequent printmaking traditions is evident in the technical precision of this piece. The complex interplay of light and shadow, achieved through meticulous cross-hatching, elevates the engraving beyond simple illustration. As one of Dürer’s key early works, The Four Witches remains highly studied by scholars, and due to its age and the nature of the medium, high-quality images of this foundational artwork are frequently found in the public domain, ensuring its continued accessibility for academic study and appreciation worldwide.