Madonna Crowned By An Angel 1520

Albrecht Dürer, who lived from 1471 to 1528, created "Madonna Crowned By An Angel" using engraving, a technique which allows for incredibly fine detail. This image reflects the intense religious environment of the early 16th century. Dürer, living through the stirrings of the Reformation, imbues the traditional Madonna and Child with a Northern Renaissance sensibility. Here, Mary is not just the mother of God, but a woman, crowned by an angel, yet still seated on what looks like a simple wooden bench. The work emphasizes her dual role: divine and maternal. You can see her humanity in the tender way she holds the child. While Dürer adheres to the conventions of religious art, there's also a personal element. The detailed landscape in the background and the artist's signature, signal a shift towards a more individualized, humanistic approach to art, which was characteristic of the times. The engraving serves not only as a religious icon but also as a statement of Dürer's artistic identity in a changing world.