Woodblock for Samson Rending the Lion 1492 - 1503

This woodblock print, created by Albrecht Dürer between 1492 and 1503, depicts the biblical story of Samson slaying a lion. The print is a powerful example of Dürer's mastery of detail and perspective, with the focus on Samson's struggle with the lion in the foreground and a distant city and landscape providing a context. Dürer's use of chiaroscuro, a technique utilizing contrasting light and dark areas, adds drama and depth to the scene. This woodblock, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases the artistic innovation of the Renaissance era.