The Rhinoceros

The Rhinoceros by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1515, is one of the most celebrated and historically significant prints in the history of Western art. This German masterwork, executed as a woodcut on laid paper, exemplifies Dürer’s profound technical skill in the print medium during the height of the Northern Renaissance, a period defined roughly from 1501 to 1550.

The subject of the work is the Indian rhinoceros that arrived in Lisbon that year, the first living specimen seen in Europe since antiquity. However, Dürer based his rendering not on direct observation, but on descriptions and a sketch sent to him from Portugal. The resulting depiction is a highly stylized, almost fantastical creature, armored with large, plate-like scales, rivets, and an unnatural horn on its back, giving the animal the appearance of a medieval knight ready for combat.

Despite its biological inaccuracies, which later scholars would note, the visual power of this iconic image secured its status as the definitive visual reference for the rhinoceros for more than 250 years. The success of the woodcut stemmed from Dürer’s masterful manipulation of line weight and texture, creating a sense of three-dimensionality and weight through intricate crosshatching. This work demonstrates why Dürer is considered the foremost European printmaker of his era, influencing generations of artists and naturalists alike through his high-quality prints.

The work resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a cornerstone example of early sixteenth-century German graphic art. Due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this influential work are frequently found in the public domain, ensuring its continued study and appreciation globally as a powerful document bridging art, history, and early scientific inquiry.