The Rejection of Joachim's Offering, from The Life of the Virgin

The Rejection of Joachim's Offering, from The Life of the Virgin by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, is a significant woodcut dating from 1504. This powerful print in black on ivory laid paper forms one of the central components of Dürer's influential series, The Life of the Virgin, a major project that cemented the artist’s reputation throughout Europe.

The scene illustrates a key event from the apocryphal narrative of the Virgin Mary’s parents. It depicts the elderly Joachim being dramatically rejected by a Jewish high priest for presenting an offering, due to his and his wife Anna's childlessness. Dürer frames the emotional confrontation within a highly detailed architectural space, merging Northern Renaissance precision with an Italianate sense of classical monumentality. The handling of the woodcut medium showcases the master’s pioneering skill; Dürer was renowned for pushing the technical boundaries of prints, achieving deep contrasts and fine textures previously unseen in relief printmaking.

As a central figure in the German Renaissance, Dürer (1471-1528) successfully elevated the status of the print medium from mere illustration to high art. The execution of this complex work demonstrates why Dürer’s woodcuts were highly sought after across the continent. This impression is classified as a fine art print and is maintained within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a work of this period, often residing in public domain collections, this image remains a fundamental reference for the history of printmaking and religious iconography.