Artwork
Presentation of the Virgin
Presentation of the Virgin is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Altdorfer, a German artist active in Regensburg during the early sixteenth century, produced the woodcut titled Presentation of the Virgin around 1513. Executed on laid paper, the print belongs to his oeuvre of religious subjects rendered in a graphic, monochrome medium.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a domestic scene in which a woman lies on a bed holding an infant, surrounded by onlookers. Two male figures—one bearded and wearing a tall hat, the other holding a staff—stand close to the mother, while additional figures in period robes observe from the sides. The composition suggests a narrative moment linked to the Virgin Mary’s early life.
Technique & Style
Altdorfer employed the woodcut process, carving the design into a block of wood and printing it onto paper. The print is distinguished by crisp, incised lines that delineate clothing folds, hair, and architectural elements, creating a sense of depth despite the absence of colour. The stark contrast of black ink against the laid‑paper surface emphasizes the linear quality typical of the medium.
Context
Working within the Danube School, Altdorfer was known for integrating detailed landscapes into biblical scenes. Though this work focuses on a interior setting, it reflects his broader interest in combining narrative with expressive surroundings, a hallmark of his contributions to early Northern Renaissance art.
History & Provenance
The woodcut was produced as part of Altdorfer’s print output associated with the Nuremberg Little Masters, a group of engravers and woodcutters noted for intricate small‑scale works. Its survival on laid paper indicates it was likely intended for a relatively wide circulation among devotional audiences of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
