The Holy Family with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne

The Holy Family with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne by Albrecht Dürer is a highly detailed woodcut created in 1511. This print exemplifies the master printmaker's ability to imbue the traditionally restrictive medium with intricate texture, volumetric form, and subtle emotional depth. The subject matter reflects a profound religious interest in the early 16th century, specifically the veneration of Saint Anne, the matriarch of Christ’s immediate family.

Dürer arranges the key figures-including the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child (Infant), Saint Joseph, Saint Anne, and Saint Joachim (Saints and Men)-in a cohesive and detailed setting. The complexity of the linear work demonstrates the artist's absolute control over the wood block, achieving nuanced shading and dramatic folds of drapery that rival techniques typically seen in engraving.

As one of the pivotal figures in the German Renaissance, Dürer elevated the practice of printmaking, making his sophisticated works accessible to a wider European audience. The dissemination of graphic arts allowed powerful compositions like this one to be reproduced and studied far beyond the original location. Today, high-quality woodcut prints of Dürer's graphic output, sometimes available in the public domain, continue to be studied for their technical brilliance and iconographic importance. This celebrated impression resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.