“The Sixth Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with Seven Wreaths

“The Sixth Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with Seven Wreaths by Albrecht Dürer is a remarkable example of Renaissance geometry rendered through the demanding medium of the woodcut. Created between 1500 and 1521, this print belongs to Dürer’s iconic series known simply as the "Six Knots," which explores intricate interlacing designs intended as exercises in artistic and mathematical theory.

These circular compositions are masterpieces of linear complexity. The design features a continuous, unbroken line weaving over and under itself to form a visually stable yet optically complex roundel composed of seven distinct wreaths. Dürer's mathematical rigor is evident in how the complex structure maintains perfect symmetry, challenging the precision required of the printmaker who carved the wood block. This work, like the other pieces in the series, showcases the German master’s profound interest in theoretical mathematics and the geometric principles underlying art, areas he later formalized in his published treatises.

While Dürer may have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s similar geometric Vinci Knots, the artist adapted the motif into his own distinct style, utilizing the bold contrast afforded by the woodcut process. The intricate patterning of The Sixth Knot elevated decorative prints to the status of high art, demonstrating the versatility and commercial appeal of the medium during the early sixteenth century. This important piece of early Renaissance printmaking is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is today often shared among public domain reproductions, allowing wider access to the geometric ingenuity of the artist.