Description
Albrecht Dürer’s Rhinoceros turns an unfamiliar animal into an extraordinary assembly of scales, plates, and folds. Seen in profile, the creature has the weight and presence of a living fortress. Closely worked lines give its hide a richly patterned texture, while its heavy legs and prominent horn anchor the striking silhouette.
Created in 1515, the woodcut was based on reports and an image rather than Dürer’s own encounter with the animal. Its fanciful armor reveals both the limits of that information and the power of his imagination. The result is a memorable meeting of observation, invention, and the European Renaissance’s fascination with the wider world.
Learn about the printing process in our guide to giclée prints. Explore more Albrecht Dürer prints, or view Young Hare.
