The Holy Family on a Grassy Bench

Albrecht Dürer

1526

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

northern_renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Religious

About this work

This print shows a family sitting on a grassy bench. The woman holds a baby, while another child clings to her side. Behind them, a man stands with a book, and a small figure leans on the bench. The scene is framed by trees and a bright sky with rays of light. Notice how the artist used only black lines and no color. The lines create shadows and texture, making the scene look almost three-dimensional. Try looking up woodcut to see how this printmaking technique works.