Basic Information

Historical Context

A pen drawing of a walrus, created during Dürer's Netherlands journey when he visited the royal menagerie in Antwerp. Dürer's drawing of this exotic animal parallels his famous Rhinoceros woodcut in combining empirical observation with artistic imagination. [Inferred from Dürer Catalog] Visual Description A walrus is shown from the side or three-quarter view, its massive body supported on land. The tusks, whiskers, wrinkled skin, and flipper-like limbs are rendered with careful observation. The drawing combines Dürer's characteristic precise line work with the directness of a sketch made from life. Artistic Analysis Like the Rhinoceros, this walrus drawing demonstrates Dürer's fascination with exotic animals and his commitment to recording them from direct observation. The drawing captures the walrus's peculiar anatomy with a combination of scientific precision and artistic sensitivity.