The Rhinoceros, created by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528 in 1515, is arguably the most recognizable print of the Northern Renaissance. This iconic image was executed as a woodcut in black on ivory laid paper. The creation of the work was inspired not by direct observation, but by a sketch and written description Dürer received of the first live rhinoceros to arrive in Europe since Roman times, which had landed in Lisbon earlier that year.
The woodcut technique allowed Dürer to meticulously render the animal, exaggerating its appearance with seemingly impenetrable armor plating, rivets, and a scaled neck ruffle. This deliberate stylization transformed the unknown beast into a robust, almost mythical creature, demonstrating the technical skill necessary to achieve complex tonal variations through fine hatching and cross-hatching carved into the wood block.
Originating from Germany, this print achieved immediate and widespread fame across the continent. Due to the reproducibility of the woodcut medium, the image quickly became the definitive visual representation of the rhinoceros for Europeans for nearly three centuries, despite its anatomical inaccuracies. The influence of Dürer’s piece persists to this day, and high-quality prints of this Renaissance masterwork are frequently made available through public domain initiatives. This superb impression of The Rhinoceros is permanently housed within the extensive prints and drawings collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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