Artwork
The Monstrous Pig of Landser
The Monstrous Pig of Landser is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in plate, bottom center: AD [artist's monogram]; verso, center left, in graphite by a later hand: B95; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: 32 [upside down]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: S [?]; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: V
About this work
Overview
The Monstrous Pig of Landser is an engraving on laid paper attributed to Albrecht Dürer, dating to circa 1496. The work features a fantastical, anthropomorphized pig as its central subject.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a gigantic pig with diminutive legs, upright on its hind feet, adorned with a crown and grasping a scepter. Its textured, armor-like skin may symbolize contemporary fears of monsters and plagues prevalent during the late 15th century.
Technique & Style
Dürer's mastery of engraving techniques is evident in the sharp, detailed lines and the effective use of cross-hatching to achieve textured, three-dimensional shading, particularly on the pig's skin.
History & Provenance
Created around 1496, during a period of widespread fear of monsters and plagues, the piece reflects Dürer's ability to transform realistic elements into surreal, nightmarish imagery.
Context
This work is characteristic of the Northern Renaissance's fascination with hybrid creatures and the allegorical use of animals. It showcases Dürer's innovative approach to blending the grotesque with meticulous craftsmanship.
Legacy
The Monstrous Pig of Landser remains a notable example of Dürer's printmaking prowess and his influence on subsequent European artistic explorations of the fantastical and the grotesque.
![A Fool Feeding Flowers to Swine [fol. 42 recto]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/french-early-16th-century--a-fool-feeding-flowers-to-swine-fol-42-recto--27579a7c495e1682-w320.webp)
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
