Artwork
The Dream of the Doctor (Temptation of the Idler)
The Dream of the Doctor (Temptation of the Idler) is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Israel Museum.
About this work
A sleeping man slumps over a table, his head on a book. A demon peeks from the shadows, whispering in his ear. A bony hand grips a scroll labeled with sins.
Albrecht Dürer carved this scene in 1498. He used fine lines to show light and dark, called engraving. The demon’s small size makes the threat feel sneaky, not scary.
Look for his later work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
The Dream of the Doctor is an allegorical engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1498 on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a sleeping man slumped over a book, with a demon whispering in his ear and a bony hand holding a scroll labeled with sins, symbolizing the temptation of idleness.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed the engraving technique to achieve nuanced contrasts between light and dark through fine lines, using the demon's subtle presence to convey a sense of insidious threat.
History & Provenance
Created in 1498, the work is an early example of Dürer's engraving skill, with later works by the artist held in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
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)
