The Seven Sorrows 1500

Albrecht Dürer's "The Seven Sorrows" was made with oil paint on a wood panel around the turn of the sixteenth century. Look closely at the way Dürer builds up the figures and scenes in layers. He starts with thin washes of color to establish the underpainting. Next, he slowly adds details and texture with thicker paint. This meticulous process of layering allows Dürer to create a remarkable illusion of depth. Notice, too, how he uses light and shadow to define the forms, giving the painting a sculptural quality. Beyond the refined aesthetic, Dürer’s paintings reflect the economic structures of his time, a period of immense change in Europe. The late medieval workshop system, still prevalent in the 1500s, had many specialized artisans working on one piece together. The artist was the project lead, and also the brand-name owner. Dürer also worked as a printmaker, and prints at the time could be turned out in vast numbers, and sold everywhere. In sum, attention to materials, making and context expands the meaning of this moving artwork.