The Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity by Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1511, is a monumental example of German Renaissance printmaking. Created as a woodcut, this powerful image demonstrates Dürer’s unparalleled technical mastery of the medium. Although prints often allowed for quick mass production, Dürer elevated the woodcut to the level of fine art, achieving fine detail and dramatic tonal shifts previously thought exclusive to engraving.

The composition is based on the traditional Throne of Grace iconography, depicting God the Father holding the crucified Christ, who is still attached to the Cross. The Holy Spirit, often represented by the Dove (though sometimes less distinct in the dense hatching of the print), completes the theological triad. Surrounding the central divine figures are ranks of angels and saints, along with groups of men representing humanity, reinforcing the cosmological scope of the subject. Dürer’s complex staging and profound theological understanding made this print highly influential immediately upon its creation throughout Europe.

This exceptional impression of the work is part of the extensive collection of prints housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of Dürer’s status as a key figure in the history of art and the date of its creation, high-quality prints and reproductions of this celebrated woodcut are widely available and often reside within the public domain, allowing global accessibility to this German masterwork.