In today’s A Long Look, we’ll find out how German artist Albrecht Dürer pushed the limits of engraving by experimenting with tools used by armorers and goldsmiths. And we’ll discover how his love of Italian art and fascination with the human body led to this work. 

Plus, we’ll find out the meaning of that menagerie of animals surrounding these two. You won’t believe who the parrot might represent!

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Dowland Lachrimae, or Seven Tears - 5. Lachrimae coactae” composed by John Dowland. Performed by I Solipsisti, courtesy of musopen.org.

Artwork information https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336222

Albrecht Dürer information https://www.britannica.com/biography/Albrecht-Dürer-German-artist#ref1949

The Print in the North: The Age of Albrecht Dürer and Lucas van Leyden: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 54, no. 4 (Spring, 1997) (PDF)

Gothic and Renaissance Art in Nuremberg, 1300–1550 (PDF)

One interpretation of the animals (Khan Academy)

Printmaking information How to Identify Prints / Edition 2 by Bamber Gascoigne

Engraving video (Metropolitan Museum)

Armor images and information https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23944