Drawing from the "Tarot" Prudence 1495

Albrecht Dürer created this drawing titled “Prudence”, part of the “Tarot” series, using pen and ink. The figure is defined by flowing lines, a complexity in the arrangement of forms that draws the eye across the composition. We observe Prudence holding a compass in one hand and a mirror in the other, symbolizing introspection and wisdom. Dürer, working within the burgeoning humanist thought of the Renaissance, presents us with an allegory that destabilizes simplistic moral categories. The two faces suggest a duality—looking to the past and future. The compass signifies measurement and judgment, while the mirror reflects self-awareness, yet this is combined with the bestial figure of a dragon. The linear precision and detail function not merely as aesthetic choices but engage with broader philosophical concerns about human nature and knowledge. The drawing invites ongoing interpretation, highlighting the nuanced interplay between reason, reflection, and instinct in our understanding of the self and the world.