Collect this great woodcut engraving by Albrecht Dürer titled The Prodigal Son Among the Pigs!
Dürer put his version of the prodigal son against a German-looking background, thus emphasizing the naturalism of the picture. The son kneels on a pile of manure, where he finally comes to his senses. The pose portrays the moment when the prodigal "came to himself" (Luke 15:17). The prodigal regrets his earlier decisions to demand his inheritance, leave home, and squander "his property in dissolute living" (Luke 15:13). Here, Dürer captures the prodigal's utter destitution and the very moment he decides to go home, ask his father's forgiveness and request to be treated as a servant.
This very image is included in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest (Hungary).
Details:
Artist Bio:
Albrecht Dürer was regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist. His work includes altarpieces, portraits and self-portraits, engravings, and woodcuts. It's fair to say that without Albrecht Dürer, printmaking as we know it within art history and contemporary art, would not exist. Despite living approximately 500 years ago, he remains one of the most famous and important printmakers in art history, in particular bringing woodcuts printed in large editions into the realm of fine art and the art history canon. Even though Albrecht Dürer's fame was largely built on his prints and graphic style, his financial income was secured with commissions of paintings of religious subjects and portraits, and these works remain held in high esteem for their draughtsmanship and use of color. He was, and remains, the most famous artist of the Northern Renaissance who successfully integrated an elaborately-detailed Northern style with Italian Renaissance's ideals of balance, coherence, and monumentality. Dürer was the first artist to sign a piece of art. He was also the first artist that won a copyright lawsuit.
Notice of Updated Buyer Terms of Use
We have recently updated our Buyer Terms of Use. We encourage you to review the revised terms to ensure continued understanding and compliance. By continuing to use our platform, you acknowledge and agree to the updated terms. View the updated Terms of Use