St. Jerome Seated near a Pollard Willow

About this work

A man sits under a tree, reading a book near a river. A lion naps at his feet, and a skull rests on a rock beside him. The scene feels quiet but full of life—birds, plants, and even the rough bark of the tree are drawn with care. This is Saint Jerome, a scholar who lived alone in the wilderness. Dürer made only three prints like this, using a sharp needle to scratch lines directly into metal. The scratches create soft, fuzzy edges that make the scene feel alive and dreamy. Look up the technique Dürer used here: drypoint.