The Holy Family with Joachim and Saint Anne

The Holy Family with Joachim and Saint Anne by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, created in 1511, is a powerful example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. The work is executed as a sharp woodcut in black ink on ivory laid paper, illustrating the immense technical control Dürer achieved in a medium traditionally considered less sophisticated than engraving. Dürer’s innovations elevated the woodcut to an art form capable of narrative depth, treating the medium with the complexity usually reserved for drawing or painting.

This devotional image depicts the rare gathering of Christ’s extended family, known in the tradition of Germany as the Heilige Sippe (Holy Kinship). It features the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, and Saint Joseph, alongside Mary’s parents, Saint Anne and Joachim. This intricate composition, emphasizing domestic piety and lineage, became profoundly influential across Europe due to the wide dissemination afforded by prints. As a leading figure of the German Renaissance, Dürer ensured that works like this were highly detailed, offering visual access to complex theological concepts for a broader public.

The 1511 date places this work firmly within the master's prime productive period. This impression of the woodcut The Holy Family with Joachim and Saint Anne is part of the esteemed collection of prints housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Its status as a recognized masterwork often places the image in the public domain for educational and scholarly use, continuing to influence artists and historians today.