Melencolia I - Albrecht Dürer (1514) - Limited Edition Fine Art Print

Limited Edition: Only 20 Prints Available

Discover one of the most enigmatic and analyzed images in the history of art with this museum-quality reproduction of Albrecht Dürer's Melencolia I, created in 1514 at the height of the master engraver's powers.

This extraordinary engraving stands as one of Dürer's three celebrated "Master Engravings" alongside Knight, Death, and the Devil and Saint Jerome in his Study. For over five centuries, Melencolia I has captivated viewers, scholars, and artists with its profound intellectual complexity and emotional depth. The brooding winged figure, traditionally representing the melancholic temperament associated with artistic and intellectual genius, sits surrounded by an array of symbolic objects: mathematical and carpentry tools, a magic square, a mysterious polyhedron, an hourglass, scales, a ladder ascending into darkness, and a comet blazing across the sky.

Every element in this densely symbolic composition has generated countless interpretations. The magic square's numbers add to 34 in every direction, and the bottom row contains the date 1514. The geometric instruments speak to Renaissance interests in mathematics and measurement, while the idle tools suggest the frustration of creative paralysis. The bat bearing the work's title emerges from brilliant light, and a ladder leads upward to unknown heights. Is this a self-portrait of artistic melancholy? An allegory of the limitations of human knowledge? A meditation on geometry and the liberal arts? The ambiguity is intentional, inviting each viewer to engage with the work's mysteries.

From a technical standpoint, Melencolia I represents the absolute pinnacle of engraving craftsmanship. Dürer's mastery of the burin allowed him to create an astonishing range of tones and textures through crosshatching and line variation alone. The rendering of different surfaces—feathered wings, metallic tools, stone architecture, fabric drapery, the sleeping dog's fur—demonstrates virtuosity that has rarely been equaled in the history of printmaking.

Premium Luxury Edition

This limited series reproduction is printed on premium Ilford Cotton Textured 310gsm paper, a museum-grade fine art paper made from 100% cotton rag. This luxurious substrate features a subtle textured surface that beautifully captures the tonal nuances and precise line work of Dürer's original engraving. The cotton composition ensures archival longevity and resistance to yellowing, while the substantial 310gsm weight provides an impressive tactile quality that befits this masterwork.

The Ilford cotton paper's natural white tone and slightly textured finish are particularly well-suited to reproducing historical engravings, evoking the quality of fine printmaking papers used during Dürer's era while utilizing contemporary archival standards. The print captures every intricate detail of the original: each carefully incised line, every subtle gradation of tone, all the minute symbolic elements that reward close examination.

Each print in this limited edition is individually numbered and bears a certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing its exclusivity and value as a collectible piece. With only 20 prints available worldwide, this edition offers discerning collectors the opportunity to own a truly exceptional reproduction of one of art history's most significant engravings.

Melencolia I works beautifully in various interior settings. Its monochromatic palette and geometric composition complement both traditional and contemporary decor. The print's intellectual depth makes it particularly appropriate for studies, libraries, home offices, or any space dedicated to contemplation and creative work. It serves as both a stunning visual focal point and a conversation piece that invites discussion about art, symbolism, Renaissance philosophy, and the nature of creativity itself.

This limited edition reproduction is ideal for serious collectors of Renaissance art, students of art history, printmaking enthusiasts, mathematicians and scientists interested in art, or anyone drawn to images of profound symbolic complexity. Whether displayed alone as a powerful statement piece or as part of a curated collection of Dürer's engravings, Melencolia I brings the intellectual and aesthetic achievement of the Northern Renaissance into your space.

Print Specifications:

Dimensions: 24.2 × 18.8 cm (9.5 × 7.4 in)
Faithful reproduction matching the original 1514 engraving size

• Original artwork: Engraving, 1514
• Artist: Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
• Edition: Limited to 20 numbered prints
• Paper: Ilford Cotton Textured 310gsm
• Composition: 100% cotton rag, acid-free
• Finish: Natural white with subtle texture
• Printing: High-resolution archival inkjet
• Longevity: Museum-quality archival standards
• Certificate: Numbered certificate of authenticity included

Only 20 prints available - Secure your numbered edition before this exclusive series is completed.

Explore our complete collection of Albrecht Dürer engravings to discover more masterworks from this Renaissance genius, or view his revolutionary watercolors and oil paintings in our Dürer paintings collection.