The Visitation 1503

Albrecht Durer made this woodcut, titled ‘The Visitation,’ at the turn of the 16th century, when he was living and working in Nuremberg, Germany. The print depicts the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, both pregnant with children who have a divine destiny. The image creates meaning through the setting in which the artist places the women. Outside the walls of what we might imagine to be Elizabeth’s home, Durer opens up a panoramic view of the German landscape. This imagery of the natural world was of particular interest to artists in Northern Europe at this time. Durer’s masterful woodcuts were popular with collectors across Europe and the sophistication of his work helped to elevate the status of printmaking. His success was instrumental in opening up new markets and institutions for artists working in this medium. In understanding the place of this print in the history of art, we might examine it in relation to the history of print collecting.