One of the most famous works that use the unique method of metal carving is the engraving by Albrecht Durer "Melancholy". She most often mates with his name, as, for example, the Mona Lisa is inextricably linked to Leonardo da Vinci.
Superb craftsmanship
But first of all, it is worthwhile to dwell on the Dürer graphic itself, on the content of its engravings and on the technique of mastery. Because when you look at his engravings, in the works that are called incisor engravings on copper, the incredibility of the technical perfection of the creator is surprising. It is incredibly unique, complex and time-consuming.
It was Dürer who created this technique of carving on copper. He took the cutter, laid his hand on a special pillow so that you could hold it in a certain position for a long time. And during the work on his masterpieces, he did not take the copper plate with a cutter, but moved the board itself at hand. Subsequently, the etching process began.
It is necessary to pay attention to his wonderful works "Rhinoceros", "Melancholy", "Knight, Devil and Death". Looking at them, it is impossible to believe that it is possible to accomplish in this way. What a huge number of lines! And today, nobody uses the etching technique on copper with etching, which was created by Albrecht Durer. She came with this extraordinary master and left with him.
Three parts of the master craftsman’s magnificent creation
The most famous engraving by Albrecht Durer is "Melancholy". It was created in the year fifteen hundred and fourteen. If you consider it very carefully, you will notice that this engraving on horizontal lines is divided into three levels.
Each of them represents a certain level of knowledge. The artist in this work carefully designates all these levels with specific attributes. If you look closely enough at the objects that are depicted in the lower tier, you can see a very interesting set there.
Craft tools or a high level of creation of a masterpiece
Each instrument from the Dürer "Melancholy" engraving located at this level refers to craft objects: a plane, tongs, a square, a hammer and nails. And the most impressive thing is a perfectly shaped ball. It is he who is a sign of very high skill.
In the era of Albrecht, various teachings, technical skills, the ability to craft something with one's own hands, knowledge of the anatomy represented by an animal curled up in the left corner of the engraving - all this required the highest levels of education.
At the heart of all this was the possession of a rather painstaking technical skill. And any instrument from the engraving of Dürer's Melancholy emphasized the presence of each of this knowledge. And if the master could create such a sphere, then he has the opportunity to move on to the next level of training.
Albrecht Durer. "Melancholy". High quality crafts or next level of intelligence
At the middle level, a wide variety of attributes are visible. And they, at first glance, have no connection with each other. Cute little angel is busy reading a book. At the same time, he sits on the upper part of the millstone. In all likelihood, this cute boy with small wings represents an area of some kind of intellectual development.
At the character’s robes, which is located to the right of the angel, a wallet is fastened. But he lies at her feet. Because money is an appropriate remuneration only for work specifically done. And it is possible if you use any instrument from the engraving by Dürer "Melancholy", which is located at the bottom of the picture related to craftsmanship. And it is impossible to evaluate intellectual work , it does not have the appropriate payment, so the wallet is also on the lower tier.
A huge mid-level crystal
But the main place in the second part of the picture is occupied by a huge crystal. This is the image of what is the goal for any alchemist. In the days of Albrecht's life, in the late Middle Ages, the craftsman’s skill was evaluated by the art of creating a ball, and the highest degree of intellectual knowledge or an absolutely learned person belonged to someone who knew the scientist Ibn Sina’s theorem on the sum of the angles of a polygon.
Albrecht Dürer himself was familiar with this law. "Melancholy" shows the viewer a crystal. He is the polygonal figure representing the theorem of a famous scientist. And nearby lies a geologist’s tool, showing that such a stone can be mined not by the alchemical route, but more natural. And another instrument from the Dürer Melancholy engraving is the crucible of the alchemist, where the transmutation process is going on, located a little further - behind the crystal.
A work that astounded the whole world
And finally, the third belt is something incredible. On the right side you can see a very large tower that goes up and never ends. As well as the stairs, attached to it and going into the sky. On the building itself, you can see two wonderful items.
This is an hourglass expressing the image of time, and Dürer’s magic table, where both vertically and horizontally the figure thirty-two is obtained. The alarm is located above the table, and the rope from it goes beyond the outline of the picture created by Albrecht Dürer.
"Melancholy" presents the viewer this tower as a symbol of the fact that it is impossible to study absolutely all the truths. There are things that are endless for the knowledge of the human mind. And they include not only craftsmanship and intellectual education, but also magical teachings.
In Germany, the Kunsthalle Gallery houses the engraving of Dürer's Melancholy. In good resolution, the images presented here, of course, do not allow you to feel all the perfection of the work of the author of the work, which plunged the whole world into wonder. But, nevertheless, they help to study this masterpiece and draw up its analysis.
Part of the work relating to earthly existence
The work that Albrecht Durer created using the copper carving technique is the painting "Melancholy", which also represents the terrestrial landscape located in the upper left corner of the engraving. Infinitely bright shining rays from a distant star. There is a legend that Halley's comet is depicted here , which swept through the sky at that time.
But the main character is a bat, which refers to the symbol of melancholy. She in her paws above the star, rainbow, water and the whole landscape carries a map of this mental illness of all geniuses. Huge knowledge gives rise to sorrow. The more a person knows, the deeper he sees and plunges into black melancholy.
The image of genius or black melancholy
The last figure that Dürer showed was melancholy. The photo presented here shows the image of a genius or black melancholy created by the artist. She has huge wings of extraordinary scope. Like very big wings of an angel. And in her hands she holds a compass.
By this, Albrecht Durer wanted to make clear that any infinity of knowledge must be proved, measured and verified. Everything should be under control. And on the head of the figure is a flowering turn, which has not yet circled and does not cut its spikes into the brow.
And, perhaps, it is this image of melancholy that the artist showed, with such a sad look and combining so much in himself, is one of his self-portraits, only in the image.
Albrecht Durer is the only one among world artists who has an incredible number of self-portraits. He painted the first when he was still quite a boy. And then begins a series of endless own images to the very last, where he stands, pointing to the pancreas. He seems to be making a diagnosis for himself.
And this famous engraving "Melancholy" by Albrecht Durer expresses, first of all, the theme of fate. And all the knowledge presented on it, the three levels of knowledge of science and mastery, according to the author, ultimately give rise to melancholy. For everything you have to pay a very high spiritual price. So the greatest creator conveyed his state of mind in this picture.