The Sixth Knot (combining seven small systems of knots with black centers)

The Sixth Knot (combining seven small systems of knots with black centers) by Albrecht Dürer is a masterful, non-representational woodcut executed between 1506 and 1507. This intricate print belongs to a renowned series that showcases the artist’s virtuosity in handling geometry and complex pattern work, elevating printmaking beyond mere reproduction.

The work, classified specifically as a print, focuses entirely on an elaborate, circular system of interwoven ribbons. The composition is built around seven smaller, self-contained knot systems that interlock to form the larger, centralized structure referred to in the title. Dürer utilized the demanding woodcut medium to render the continuous flow of these linear elements, carefully controlling the contrast between the white lines of the pattern and the dense, dark background. The small ‘black centers’ provide anchors for the eye amidst the visual complexity, emphasizing the rotational symmetry inherent in the design.

As a principal figure of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer was instrumental in establishing sophisticated graphic arts in the region. This piece falls squarely within the critical German period of 1501 to 1550, when Dürer's theoretical interests in proportion, optics, and mathematics deeply influenced his artistic production, even in decorative works like this one. These abstract compositions demonstrate Dürer’s technical genius and his engagement with the intellectual concerns of the early sixteenth century.

This delicate example of Dürer’s graphic mastery is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Such historical prints often served as studies or decorative models for artisans and designers. Due to their age and cultural significance, high-resolution images of these masterworks are often made available for educational purposes through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued access to the rich legacy of German Renaissance graphic arts.