Artwork
Small Horse
Small Horse is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The background shows a dark, textured wall and a round window with the year 1505 carved above it.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a rider on a small horse. The horse is detailed, with a saddle and bridle, standing on a rocky ground. The rider wears a helmet with a plume and holds a spear. The background shows a dark, textured wall and a round window with the year 1505 carved above it.
The rider’s face is hidden, and the horse looks small but strong. The scene feels dramatic, with the horse’s muscles and the rider’s stance suggesting movement.
This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists etch lines into metal plates.
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s Small Horse, executed in 1505, is a black‑and‑white engraving on laid paper. The composition presents a rider astride a diminutive yet muscular horse, set against a rough stone surface and a darkened wall that includes a circular opening bearing the date. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a solitary mounted figure, his face concealed beneath a plume‑adorned helmet, gripping a spear as if poised for action. The horse, though small in scale, is rendered with pronounced musculature, conveying strength and readiness. The stark setting and the rider’s concealed identity invite contemplation of anonymity and the universal qualities of martial readiness.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed the engraving process, incising fine lines into a copper plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. The technique allows for precise hatching and cross‑hatching, evident in the rendering of the horse’s flesh, the texture of the saddle, and the gritty background. The work exemplifies Dürer’s mastery of line and his interest in anatomical exactitude.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 16th century, Small Horse has remained in the public domain through various collections before its acquisition by the National Gallery of Art. The presence of the date 1505 carved above the window in the background confirms its chronological placement within Dürer’s mature period, reflecting his ongoing exploration of print media.
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)
