The Second Knot

"The Second Knot" by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, is a highly technical example of Northern Renaissance printmaking executed in 1507. This piece is classified as a print and is rendered as a woodcut in black on ivory laid paper, showcasing the artist's extraordinary control over the cutting process essential to the medium. Produced in Germany, the work belongs to Dürer’s crucial body of graphic production, which dramatically elevated the status of the print as an art form throughout Europe during the early sixteenth century.

This particular work is one of a celebrated series of six interlocking, abstract designs, commonly known as the Sechs Knoten (Six Knots). The prints feature intricate, non-breaking interlaced patterns based on mathematical symmetry. While such designs were historically utilized as decorative motifs, Dürer transformed them into complex demonstrations of geometry and spatial understanding. Some art historians suggest these knot designs may be based on pattern studies originating with Leonardo da Vinci, reflecting the profound cross-cultural exchange between Italian and German Renaissance artists.

Dürer’s sophisticated approach to graphic art positioned him as a preeminent figure of his time. The detailed execution of The Second Knot demonstrates the precision required for woodcuts of this complexity. This important impression resides within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historical masterwork from the German Renaissance, prints and high-quality digital images of this piece are often made available through public domain collections, ensuring continued study and appreciation of the artist’s work.