The Renaissance: Albrecht Durer

 


The Four Horsemen from "The Apocalypse" 
Albrecht Durer 1498
       
    Albrecht Durer was a very influential artist during the Northern Renaissance. He is from Nuremberg, Germany and was an amazing artist, using multiple styles and mediums. Durer was one of the first artists to utilize prints for his artwork. I think this is partially why his work appeals to me so much, it is completely different than most of the art that was famous or influential during the Renaissance period. Although the subject matter is consistent with other Renaissance artwork, the sharp lines and harsh contrast really set his pieces apart. 
    
    Durers work is heavily influenced by christian humanism, and he had close personal ties to many of the leading humanists during the Northern Renaissance. He took a couple trips to Italy during the Italian Renaissance, further influencing his work. His art was also influenced by the later Protestant Reformation. A large proportion of his prints include some sort of religious element, whether it be Christ, the Virgin Mary, Angels, etc. This piece The Four Horsemen has many biblical ties beyond the obvious angel in the upper portion of this print. But with that being said, it is very different than some of the traditional religious pieces because this is shown in a war-like scene, since it is from the group of pieces he called "The Apocalypse." 

    What I personally find most appealing from this piece is the level of detail and intricacy. Every time I look at this composition I notice a new detail. The fact that this is a print from a carving in the wood cut technique is that much more impressive. He achieved so much movement in this piece, especially in the cloth of the horsemen. The stark contrast that is achieved through prints is also very appealing to my eye. This piece really amplifies the feeling of chaos that I think Durer was trying to portray. 

Works Cited

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336215
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336215

Content, Isabella Meyer( Head of. “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Dürer - an Analysis.” Artincontext.Org, 1 Aug. 2023, https://artincontext.org/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-durer/

German, Albrecht Dürer. “Albrecht Dürer: The Four Horsemen, from ‘The Apocalypse.’” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Jan. 1498, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336215

Wisse, Jacob. “Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528): Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Jan. 1AD, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/durr/hd_durr.htm

Comments

  1. MGallagherOctober 4, 2023 at 4:26 PM

    I like this piece too. The detail astounds me, especially in the scale he worked in, though I suppose the draw of only having to do the work once in order to make a lot of copies is a good motivator. The usage of lines to form light and dark regions lets this piece pop even without color; everything is clearly distinguishable. I find it interesting how humanist works like this one still prominently feature religious imagery despite the focus on humanity. I once made a linoleum cut-out carving to make prints from. It was so difficult, and the importance of carving out everything you didn't want to be there was unintuitive. I can't imagine doing it in something as textured as wood or in as much detail as is shown here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Grace BurnsOctober 6, 2023 at 12:36 AM

    It’s very interesting how influential the church was during the renaissance period. He definitely portrays humanism in his work, the details are so impressive in this piece. It’s a very powerful image and super interesting how he used wood to make this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Andrea PetkoffOctober 6, 2023 at 5:42 PM

    Hi Jordan,
    If the apocalypse was to come from the mind Albrecht Durer, I would have carefully considered my options. Durer's attention to detail and absence of color give The Four Horsemen a cluttered and stressful depiction of the end. His use of human characters for the riders of the apocalypse brings a recognizable element to revelations. We could be the cause of our own damnation, trampling on one another for salvation.

    ReplyDelete

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