Virgin and Child with the Monkey 1498

Albrecht Dürer's 1498 engraving, "Virgin and Child with the Monkey," depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. Set in a peaceful landscape, Mary gazes down at her son, who holds a bird in his hand. A chained monkey at the foot of Mary symbolizes sin, contrasting with the innocence of the Virgin and Child. The meticulous detail and realistic portrayal of figures and landscape are characteristic of Durer's style. The engraving is a masterpiece of Northern Renaissance art and a testament to Dürer's mastery of the medium.