Albrecht Dürer

A very good, strong impression of an Meder intermediate b-c impression, with the gaps in the framing line, however, the tiny break in the longest blade of grass at the top right is already becoming apparent. Dürer commenced this woodcut prior to his second journey to Italy, during a period of intensified exploration of both compositional structure and figural dynamism. The motif of Saint George appears three times within his graphic corpus, reflecting the artist’s ongoing engagement with heroic and Christian iconography. While the engravings of 1502/03 and 1505/08 depict the saint in a moment of victorious repose, standing over the vanquished dragon, this woodcut captures the climactic moment of battle itself. Saint George, astride a luminous horse, plunges his lance into the dragon’s gaping maw—an image marked by vigorous movement and heightened emotional tension. Technically, the work is notable for its expressive use of chiaroscuro. The cave mouth behind the saint is articulated through compact, almost calligraphic lines, creating a spatial depth that throws the illuminated rider into sharp relief. Such compositional contrasts underscore Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium during this formative phase of his career. Thread margins. – Paper minimall darkened, with a few, faint handling marks. Verso with remnants of former mounting along the edges, otherwise in good condition.