The Holy Family with Joachim and Anne under a Tree

The Holy Family with Joachim and Anne under a Tree by Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1511, is a masterful example of the German High Renaissance approach to printmaking. Produced as a woodcut on laid paper, this work demonstrates Dürer’s technical skill in handling complex compositions within the challenging medium of relief printing. Created during the period spanning 1501 to 1550, this piece reflects the rising importance of easily reproducible visual narratives in Northern European culture.

The subject depicts an apocryphal gathering of the Holy Family, showing the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and Saint Joseph, alongside Mary’s parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne. Dürer positions the group beneath a large, naturalistically rendered tree, a common motif symbolizing safety and the Tree of Life. The composition is intimate yet detailed, utilizing Dürer’s characteristic density of line and cross-hatching to model the figures and convey deep textural contrast. While the work is classified specifically as a print, the expressive quality and dynamic use of shadow recall the precision of the artist’s earlier copperplate engravings.

As one of the era’s most influential prints, Dürer’s image circulated widely, impacting artistic practice across Europe. The prolific nature of the medium allowed such theological scenes to reach a broad audience during a time of intense religious reform and devotion. This woodcut belongs to a significant series of religious themes the German artist focused on during the early 16th century, solidifying his reputation as the foremost graphic artist of his age. Today, due to the work's historical significance and age, high-quality images of this Dürer woodcut are frequently made available through public domain initiatives. This exemplary piece of Renaissance graphic arts resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.