Basic Information

Historical Context

A powerful woodcut depicting the biblical hero Samson tearing apart a lion with his bare hands. This scene from the Book of Judges was one of Dürer's most popular early woodcuts, demonstrating his ability to convey physical force and dramatic action in the woodcut medium. [Inferred from Dürer Catalog] Visual Description The muscular Samson, shown in profile, forcibly opens the jaws of a lion, his hands gripping the beast's upper and lower jaw. The lion's body writhes in agony, its claws raking the air. The composition is dynamic and physically convincing, with the strain of the effort visible in Samson's tensed muscles. Artistic Analysis This woodcut demonstrates Dürer's precocious mastery of dynamic composition in the woodcut medium. The physical power of the scene is conveyed through the contorted poses of both figures and the directional force of the hatching. The subject was popular in Renaissance art as a symbol of physical and spiritual strength.