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Coat of Arms with a Skull

Albrecht Dürer

1503

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Northern Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Coat of Arms with a Skull is a 1503 ink by Albrecht Dürer, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1503 · Northern Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a woman in fancy clothes holding a sword. Behind her is a winged creature with a helmet and shield. The shield has a skull on it, and the whole scene looks a little creepy but detailed. The skull isn’t just random—it’s a reminder that life ends. The artist used sharp lines and shading to make everything look real. Want to see how artists like this made prints? Try looking up engraving.