The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition

The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition, is a powerful woodcut created by German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This particular print belongs to the famed second edition of his Apocalypse series, where Dürer refined the blocks initially issued in 1498. As a master of the woodcut technique, Dürer revolutionized the medium, demonstrating its capacity for dramatic detail and emotional intensity, rivaling that of engraving.

The scene depicts the cataclysmic events following the breaking of the fifth and sixth seals, a core moment in the Book of Revelation. In the heavens, the composition shows the physical disruption of the cosmos: the Moon darkens and the Sun turns black, as described in the scripture. Below, masses of Men, including royalty, church figures, and commoners, recoil in terror, attempting to hide from the divine wrath signaled by the descent of Angels. Dürer expertly captures the chaos and fear accompanying the Apocalypse, utilizing stark black and white contrasts inherent to the print medium to emphasize the sudden, terrifying exposure of the damned.

This iconic piece confirms Dürer’s foundational influence on subsequent generations of graphic artists. The exceptional quality of these early Renaissance prints ensures the work remains a vital reference for the history of book illustration and fine art printmaking. This specific impression of Dürer's masterful work is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given its age and renown, this specific woodcut frequently enters the realm of public domain reproduction, allowing its detailed vision of divine upheaval to reach wide audiences globally.