Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple Possibly 1504 - 1511

Albrecht Dürer created this woodcut, "Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple," in the late 15th or early 16th century, a period of immense religious and social change. Dürer, living in the Holy Roman Empire during the Reformation, navigated a world where traditional religious narratives were being questioned and reshaped. This work depicts Mary's dedication to the temple as a young girl, a story laden with themes of purity, devotion, and destiny. However, Dürer subtly infuses the scene with the realities of his time, showing a busy temple filled with merchants and onlookers. The sacred and the secular coexist, reflecting the complex relationship between faith and everyday life. Dürer doesn’t simply reiterate a biblical scene; he reimagines it through the lens of his own experiences and societal observations. This print invites us to consider the roles, expectations, and spiritual lives of women during the Renaissance and how these historical narratives continue to resonate.