The Third Knot (with a black circle on a white medallion)

Albrecht Dürer created the intricate woodcut known as The Third Knot (with a black circle on a white medallion) between 1506 and 1507. This highly refined print belongs to the artist's foundational series exploring complex geometric and ornamental design. Produced during the period spanning 1501 to 1550, this work exemplifies the exceptional skill Dürer brought to the printmaking process during the height of the German Renaissance.

The piece depicts a dense, continuous line forming a stylized interlaced pattern, representing one of a set of six knot designs that Dürer executed around this time. These abstract patterns, renowned for their rigorous adherence to mathematical principles, reflect the artist's broader intellectual curiosity and fascination with geometry and ornamental repetition. The clarity and precision of the delicate linework, a hallmark of Dürer's approach to the woodcut medium, highlight the exceptional control he exerted over the carving block. Unlike many of his narrative compositions, this specific work, featuring a distinctive central black circle within a white medallion, functions as a pure exercise in visual complexity and aesthetic balance.

As one of the most influential figures of the German Renaissance, Dürer fundamentally transformed the status of the print from a simple illustrative aid into an independent fine art form. These elegant knot designs were incredibly influential across Europe, serving as pattern sources for contemporary engravers, metalworkers, embroiderers, and other artisans, illustrating the widespread commercial and artistic power of Dürer’s prints. The technical demands inherent in achieving such fine detail in a woodcut are considerable, further cementing Dürer’s reputation as a master craftsman. This superb example of early sixteenth-century German graphic arts is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it continues to serve as an important reference for the study of Renaissance ornamentation. Prints such as this, often made available for educational study as part of the public domain, confirm Dürer's lasting legacy in the history of art.