The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1500, stands as a prime example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. This precise work is executed as an engraving on laid paper, showcasing Dürer’s unparalleled mastery of the burin and his technical refinement of the graphic arts. The composition depicts the traditional grouping of the Madonna and Christ Child with Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary's mother, often referred to as the Holy Kinship.

Dürer’s career defined the apex of the German artistic tradition during the pivotal period of 1401 to 1500. Unlike many contemporary artists focused solely on panel painting, Dürer elevated the status of the print medium through his meticulous attention to texture, light, and anatomical detail, allowing his works to achieve a complexity rivaling the fineness of oil paintings. This piece demonstrates his ability to render rich fabrics and subtle human expressions using only the line work provided by the engraving technique. The technical control and density of the cross-hatching distinguish Dürer’s prints from those of his contemporaries, establishing new visual standards for graphic art across Europe.

In this intimate portrayal, Saint Anne often acts as a meditative witness to the interaction between the mother and child. The composition is classically balanced, emphasizing familial connection while retaining a sense of spiritual gravitas necessary for devotional art. The technical brilliance of the engraving quickly solidified Dürer’s international reputation as a leading figure of the Renaissance. This significant example of German graphic art is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its age and importance, the work is frequently found in public domain image archives, allowing broad scholarly and public access to reproductions of these foundational early modern prints.