Interlaced Cord Pattern with Oblong Shield 1507 - 1528

Albrecht Dürer created this Interlaced Cord Pattern with Oblong Shield, a woodcut, in the late 15th or early 16th century. Here we see the artist's interest in geometric form, and the traditions of pattern books that were popular at the time. Its cultural context is Germany during the Renaissance, a period of expanding trade networks and the growth of craft guilds. Dürer himself was a master craftsman, and this print reflects the value placed on skill and precision. The print could be seen as commenting on the structures of its own time by demonstrating the artist's mastery of a complex design, which would have been highly valued by the guilds and workshops that dominated the art world at the time. Historical research into the period, examining guild records, pattern books, and other documents, helps us understand the context in which Dürer created this intricate design. In this way, we can better understand the meaning and significance of art as a product of its time.