The Presentation in the Temple, from The Fall and Redemption of Man 1513

Albrecht Altdorfer created this woodcut, "The Presentation in the Temple, from The Fall and Redemption of Man," sometime in the early 16th century. Altdorfer was working during a tumultuous period marked by religious reformation and social upheaval. This print depicts a biblical scene through a lens deeply influenced by the cultural and religious transformations of the Renaissance. Altdorfer sets the Holy Family within the architecture of his contemporary world. The use of a woodcut allowed for wider distribution of such images, engaging a broader audience in religious narratives. Consider how the artist uses stark contrasts and detailed lines to evoke the solemnity of the event, emphasizing the emotional exchange between the figures. The small size of the print invites an intimate, personal engagement, reflecting the era’s shifting relationships between the individual and religious authority.