Artwork

The Sixth Knot (combining seven small systems of knots with black centers)

The Sixth Knot (combining seven small systems of knots with black centers) is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut, dated around 1506, presents a circular composition dominated by a dark central disc. Encircling this core is a band of black forms edged with flowing lines, while the interior is filled with an elaborate lattice of interlaced motifs that suggest a three‑dimensional texture.

Subject & Meaning

The image is organized around seven distinct knot systems, each contributing its own geometric rhythm to the whole. The repetition of interwoven loops and the contrast between the dense black center and the surrounding lighter patterns invite contemplation of order, continuity, and the mathematical principles underlying decorative design.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the work relies on fine, razor‑sharp incisions that produce delicate lines and subtle tonal variations. The precision of the carving allows the intricate knotwork to emerge with clarity, while the use of solid black areas creates a striking visual balance typical of Dürer’s early printmaking experiments.

History & Provenance

Created in the early sixteenth century, this print belongs to Dürer’s series of ornamental studies that explore decorative motifs drawn from contemporary textile and architectural sources. Though the original block’s whereabouts are unknown, the print has been documented in several early catalogues of Dürer’s oeuvre and remains a reference point for scholars of Renaissance graphic art.