The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne at the Cradle 1515 - 1520

Albrecht Altdorfer created this tiny engraving, "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne at the Cradle," around 1510. The scene, rendered in meticulous detail, is dominated by the figures of Mary and Saint Anne, whose forms create a strong vertical axis. Altdorfer employs a dense network of fine lines, a hallmark of early engraving, to build up areas of light and shadow. Notice how the radiant halos are not just circles but fields of energy, constructed from radiating lines that contrast with the softer shading of the figures’ robes. The perspective is intuitive rather than strictly mathematical. The cradle appears slightly tilted, creating a dynamic tension within the composition. This work challenges the typical static depictions of religious subjects. The artist uses formal elements to evoke a sense of immediacy, inviting the viewer to contemplate the complex interplay between the sacred and the mundane.