Samson Slaying the Lion

Albrecht Dürer's powerful woodcut depicts the Old Testament hero Samson killing a lion. Samson was attacked on the way to ask for a woman's hand in marriage. He is shown dramatically astride the animal, pressing his foot into its neck while forcing its mouth open with his bare hands. The Church often used this story as a metaphor for Christ's victory over Satan. This woodcut made early in Dürer's career demonstrates his technical virtuosity, as seen in the flowing lines and intricate detailing of the lion's full mane. Dürer carefully cut away small amounts of wood from the block's surface and applied ink to the raised areas in order to transfer the composition onto paper.