Artwork
The Virgin with Hairband on a Crescent Moon
The Virgin with Hairband on a Crescent Moon is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s print depicts the Virgin Mary standing upon a crescent moon, her head adorned with a simple hairband and her expression serene. The composition is one of a quartet of engravings in which Dürer aligns the Madonna with the apocalyptic woman described in Revelation, presenting a modest yet reverent portrayal of the mother of Christ.
Subject & Meaning
The image draws on Revelation 12, where a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and a crown of twelve stars, gives birth to a son destined to defeat Satan. By placing Mary on the moon, Dürer evokes this prophetic figure, underscoring her dual identity as both heavenly queen and humble mother.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the work employs Dürer’s precise line work and subtle tonal gradations to convey volume and softness. While the print lacks the elaborate double aureole of his later crowned Virgin, its restrained composition and delicate modeling reflect a contemplative approach, emphasizing simplicity over decorative excess.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 16th century, this print is catalogued as 1958.116 in the museum’s collection. It belongs to a series of four similar engravings that Dürer produced, each exploring the theological link between Mary and the Revelation woman, and it has been documented in several scholarly catalogues of his print oeuvre.
Context
During the Reformation era, visual representations of the Virgin often balanced devotional reverence with emerging theological debates. Dürer’s choice to portray Mary with modest attire and a hairband, rather than regal regalia, reflects contemporary currents that emphasized personal piety and the human aspects of sacred figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
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