Artwork
The Nativity
The Nativity is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1503 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Albrecht Dürer carved this Nativity in 1502–04. Mary kneels beside the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. A donkey and ox peer over the edge of the manger.
The woodcut is only 11 x 7 inches, yet it hums with detail. Tiny towns sit in the background. Each line feels alive, like Dürer’s pencil danced across the block.
Look up Dürer, Albrecht next.
Overview
The Nativity is a woodcut print on laid paper created by Albrecht Dürer around 1502-04. It measures 11 x 7 inches and depicts a scene from Christian tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows the newborn Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, with Mary kneeling beside him. An ox and a donkey look over the manger's edge, referencing the animals present at Jesus' birth according to Christian tradition.
Technique & Style
Dürer's carving brings the scene to life with intricate detail, from the tiny towns in the background to the expressive lines that convey texture and movement. The woodcut's small size belies its richly detailed composition.
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)
