Durer

Albrecht Dürer was a prolific artist, theorist, and writer of the German Renaissance who is celebrated for his woodcut prints, which transformed printmaking into an art form. His works explored religion, art theory, and philosophy, and included altarpieces, portraits, self-portraits, watercolors, and books. Dürer's woodcuts are remarkable for their scale, detail, and tonal and dynamic range, and his two major series on Christs Passion are particularly notable for their vivid human treatment of the Christian narrative. He absorbed ideas from masters and fellow artists in Germany and Italy, and his influence extended across Europe for generations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 20 December 2022
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Albrecht Dürer, a polymath of the German Renaissance, was a prolific artist, theorist, and writer whose works explored a wide range of subjects, including religion, art theory, and philosophy. His vast body of work includes altarpieces, portraits, self-portraits, watercolors, and books, but he is most celebrated for his remarkable collection of woodcut prints. These prints revolutionized printmaking, transforming it from an artisan practice into a new art form.

Dürer's woodcuts are awe-inspiring in their scale and detail. Through works such as "Apocalypse" and the "Triumphal Arch for Emperor Maximilian I," he created dense, meticulously composed compositions that were much larger, much more finely cut, and far more complex than any earlier woodcut efforts. With an ambitious tonal and dynamic range, he introduced a new level of conceptual, emotional, and spiritual intensity. His two major woodcut series on Christ's Passion, named "The Large Passion" and "The Small Passion" after their size, are particularly remarkable for their vivid human treatment of the Christian narrative. In his copper engraving, "Melancholia I," Dürer created a startling vision of emotional ennui, often cited as a defining early image of a depressive or melancholic state.

Ever inquisitive, Dürer absorbed ideas not only from masters and fellow artists in Germany but also from Italy. His influence extended across Europe for generations to come. In this essential TASCHEN introduction, we explore this pioneering figure's complex practice, his omnivorous intellect, and the key works that shaped his enduring legacy.

Weight: 628g
Dimension: 263 x 217 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836530811