The artwork “A Lobster” by Albrecht Dürer, created in 1495, is a pen and paper creation from the Northern Renaissance period, representing the genre of animal painting. The drawing depicts a detailed study of a lobster, showcasing Dürer’s skill at capturing the intricate textures and form of this sea creature.
In the image, the lobster is the sole subject, occupying most of the frame. Its body is depicted with careful attention to the segmented and armored aspects of its exoskeleton. Dürer has carefully rendered the nuances of its claws, antennae, and legs, using delicate lines to suggest both the roughness of its shell and the finer details of its underbelly. Attention is drawn to the creature’s large, prominent claws, which are a characteristic feature of lobsters. The artwork bears a monochromatic hue, characteristic of pen drawings on paper, with variations in shading providing depth and volume to the image. The artist’s fascination with natural detail and anatomy is evident, and the year “1495” is inscribed within the drawing, serving as a date of creation.
