The artwork titled “The Woman Clothed with the Sun and the Seven Headed Dragon” is a woodcut by Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer from 1511. It is part of the “Apocalypse” series, representing religious themes. Currently, this piece is housed at the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, France.
The woodcut presents a dense and intricate composition, full of symbolism from the Book of Revelation. In the center, a woman appears clothed with the sun, standing on a crescent moon, and crowned with a halo of twelve stars, directly referencing the biblical text. She is positioned above the seven-headed dragon, which seems to be lunging towards her. The dragon has multiple crowns and an elongated body, suggesting its immense power and malevolent intent.
Above the woman, there is an assembly of angels; one angel seems to be intervening by pointing down towards the dragon. In the upper right corner, seated on clouds and surrounded by stars, is an imposing figure that could represent God or an elder from Biblical scripture, holding a book or tablet and dressed in voluminous robes, emanating rays of light that further emphasize his divinity.
The scene is filled with other heavenly and earthly details, including additional angels and celestial objects, which all together create a dramatic narrative. The woman’s expression is serene, in stark contrast to the contorted, aggressive demeanor of the dragon. Dürer’s masterful use of line and contrast gives the image great depth and texture, and his iconic monogram “AD” is found at the bottom center of the composition.
