The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is a monumental woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer between 1502 and 1503. This impressive print is one of nineteen illustrations that comprise Dürer’s renowned cycle, The Life of the Virgin. Originating from Germany during a period of intense religious and artistic transformation, this work showcases the revolutionary sophistication Dürer brought to the medium of relief printing. Before the advent of widespread access to art, cycles like this were crucial for disseminating religious narratives across Europe, solidifying Dürer's reputation as a print master.

The subject depicts the apocryphal narrative of the Virgin Mary, shown as a child ascending the steep stairs of the Temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to God. Dürer structures the scene using complex spatial recession, leading the viewer's eye upwards toward the high priest waiting at the apex. Unlike earlier, more static compositions found in many contemporary German prints, Dürer infuses the image with deep architectural detail and numerous subsidiary figures, including onlookers and contemporary citizens, lending the sacred event a recognizable, human dimension. His masterful use of cross-hatching and varying line thickness demonstrates how effectively the artist could translate depth and texture into the stark language of the black-and-white woodcut.

This particular work, characteristic of early 16th-century German artistic achievement, is an essential component of Dürer’s printed oeuvre. As one of the master’s most celebrated print cycles, The Life of the Virgin profoundly influenced generations of later printmakers. A fine impression of this influential piece is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.