Death and the Landsknecht 1510

This stark image, “Death and the Landsknecht,” was made around 1510 by Albrecht Dürer, using the technique of woodcut. The stark black lines were achieved by carving away the soft wood around them, leaving a raised surface that could be inked and then printed onto paper. This was a relatively accessible form of printmaking, allowing for wider circulation of images, and consequently, ideas. Look closely at the intricate details – the Landsknecht's elaborate garb, Death's skeletal form, and the hourglass marking time's passage. Woodcut enabled Dürer to convey both texture and symbolism. Consider the Landsknecht, a mercenary soldier, standing face to face with Death himself. These soldiers were a product of their time, selling their services for profit amid constant warfare. This print reflects on the fleeting nature of life, contrasting the soldier's bravado with the inevitable end. The relative ease of producing woodcuts made such potent social commentary widely available, and still relevant today.