Madonna and Child with John the Baptist 1520

Albrecht Dürer sketched this Madonna and Child with John the Baptist using pen and black ink. The eye is immediately drawn to the intricate network of lines that define form and texture. Look at how Dürer masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of volume, particularly in the drapery that envelops the Madonna. The linear precision offers a detailed description of the play of light and shadow across the surfaces. Dürer uses line as a structural element but also imbues it with expressive qualities. The figures exist within a structured hierarchy, yet the work challenges the established artistic norms. In the context of Dürer’s broader body of work, we can see how this drawing contributes to a larger discourse on representation, spirituality, and the evolving role of the artist in society.