“The Second Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with an Amazon Shield in its Center by Albrecht Dürer is a masterful early 16th-century woodcut print created between 1500 and 1521. This intricate design belongs to a series of six highly complex ornamental works known as the “Six Knots,” which demonstrate the German Renaissance artist’s profound interest in geometric precision and interwoven patterns. The composition features a perfectly circular frame filled with dense, symmetrical knotwork that surrounds a strong central motif.
The focal point of the roundel is a cartouche resembling a pelta, or Amazon Shield, a classical military design characterized by its bilobate shape. While the series is primarily abstract and decorative, Dürer's inclusion of recognizable objects like these Shields anchors the complex geometry in material culture and shows his dedication to classical reference. As a highly successful and innovative printmaker, Dürer used the challenging medium of the woodcut to achieve fine detail and deep contrast, showcasing the technical possibilities of printmaking during the High Renaissance.
This piece, like the others in the Knots series, was highly influential for decorative arts, textiles, and architectural ornamentation across Europe. The work currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Because of its historical importance and age, this significant print is often available through public domain archives, allowing researchers and enthusiasts to study Dürer’s foundational contributions to the graphic arts.
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