The Virgin with the Dragonfly

"The Virgin with the Dragonfly" by Albrecht Dürer German, 1471-1528, is a highly refined example of early German Renaissance printmaking, executed sometime between 1490 and 1500. This masterful work, classified as a print, utilizes the technically demanding process of engraving in black on ivory laid paper. Created during a foundational period in Dürer’s career, this piece showcases the young artist’s extraordinary precision and depth of detail, qualities that would soon elevate his status throughout Germany and across Europe.

The work depicts the tender interaction between the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child seated on a low bench before an open landscape. Dürer’s exacting control over the burin defines the intricate folds of the drapery and the subtle tonalities of light and shadow, demonstrating his rapid transition from the Gothic style toward the principles of the Italian Renaissance. The subtlety achieved through the closely spaced lines and cross-hatching showcases why Dürer is considered instrumental in raising the status of prints from mere commercial reproductions to independent works of art.

Iconographically, the title element, the dragonfly, rests on the ground line at the Virgin’s feet. In late medieval and Renaissance art, insects were often employed as complex symbols; the dragonfly specifically often represents the Resurrection, redemption, or Christ's power over the natural world. This focus on intricate symbolism paired with highly realistic rendering marks the defining characteristics of Northern European print culture at the turn of the sixteenth century. This historically significant engraving, The Virgin with the Dragonfly, is proudly maintained in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where its availability makes it a crucial resource for the study of this renowned German master.