“The Sixth Knot”. Interlaced Roundel with Seven Wreaths

Description

The Sixth Knot by Albrecht Dürer, after designs associated with Leonardo da Vinci or his workshop, creates a dense circular field of interwoven ornament. Seven rounded openings interrupt the lace-like network, while corner motifs extend the design into the surrounding square. Pale strands cross the dark background in a pattern that seems to turn continuously upon itself.

Made before 1521, this woodcut gives a decorative subject the absorbing complexity of a puzzle. Repetition establishes its order, yet the many crossings keep the eye moving between larger shapes and minute connections. The contrast of light and dark makes the whole surprisingly legible, allowing the viewer to enjoy both the roundel’s balanced structure and the lively intricacy of its woven paths.