The Seven Angels with the Trumpets

The Seven Angels with the Trumpets by Albrecht Dürer is a monumental woodcut created between 1496 and 1498. This powerful piece forms a core element of Dürer’s revolutionary Apocalypse series, a body of work that dramatically elevated the status of the print medium and established the artist as the premier graphic master of the German Renaissance. Executed during the period represented by the dates 1401 to 1500, the work showcases Dürer’s innovative technique in manipulating the medium for maximum dramatic effect.

The subject illustrates a cataclysmic scene derived from the Book of Revelation, specifically depicting the moment when the seven angels sound their trumpets, initiating plagues and chaos upon the Earth. Dürer fills the composition with dense, energetic detail, using the sharp contrasts inherent in the woodcut technique to generate dynamic chiaroscuro. The juxtaposition of white space and heavy black outlines effectively conveys the spiritual terror and physical upheaval of the prophecy. This mastery over line and shading allowed the artist to achieve a sculptural quality rarely seen in prints of this era.

The immense popularity of the Apocalypse series upon publication cemented Dürer’s reputation across Europe and profoundly influenced subsequent generations of German and European artists. This work, in particular, demonstrates how reproducible prints could convey complex narrative and high artistic quality previously reserved for unique works like painting. Dürer’s The Seven Angels with the Trumpets remains a cornerstone of late 15th-century graphic art. This original impression is proudly held within the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Owing to its historical significance and age, high-quality images of this foundational German print are often circulated through public domain resources, ensuring its continued study and appreciation globally.