Joachim and the Angel from the 'Life of the Virgin' 1511

This woodcut print, part of a larger series depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, is titled "Joachim and the Angel." It was created in 1511 by the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. The scene depicts the moment when the angel Gabriel appears to Joachim, a shepherd, in a grove of trees, informing him that his prayers have been answered and his wife, Anna, will soon give birth to a daughter, Mary. The intricate detail of the trees, the flowing drapery of the angel, and the dramatic composition are characteristic of Dürer's style, reflecting his mastery of this printmaking technique.