1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Title-Border with Putti Holding the Pirckheimer Arms is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Dürer, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This border looks like a frame for a book page. Two chubby cherub-like figures kneel at the bottom, holding up a shield with a tree on it. The edges are packed with swirling vines, flowers, and strange shapes—like tiny towers and scrolls—that fill the black background. The empty center suggests this was meant to hold text or an image. The cherubs and shield might be symbols for a family or group. The whole thing looks like it was carved into wood before being printed. If you like this kind of detailed printing, check out woodcut as a technique.
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
![Madonna and Child [obverse]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d7b8ebf05d22ebe5/thumb.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/b4ebf9b282faa17a/thumb.webp)
