Artwork
Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Altdorfer, a German artist of the early 16th century, produced the engraving Samson and Delilah circa 1522. Executed on laid paper, the print presents a compact narrative scene rendered in fine incised lines, typical of the period’s small‑scale printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the biblical moment when Samson, the muscular hero, rests his head on Delilah’s lap while she leans over him, her arm across his shoulders. The intimate pose suggests the tension between love and betrayal that defines the story.
Technique & Style
Altdorfer employed meticulous cross‑hatching to model the figures’ flesh and drapery, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. The background includes a brick wall, a modest tower, and a few trees, rendered with the same delicate line work, demonstrating his skill in integrating narrative and landscape.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to Altdorfer’s early print output, aligning him with the Nuremberg Little Masters—artists known for small, highly detailed engravings. It reflects his broader interest in combining biblical subjects with expressive natural settings, a hallmark of the Danube School.
Context
During the German Renaissance, Altdorfer was active in Regensburg as a painter, engraver, and architect. His work contributed to the emergence of landscape as an independent genre, even as he continued to embed figures within richly detailed environments.
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…
