Melencholia I is one of the three "master prints" by Albrecht Dürer, widely held to represent the pinnacle of his skill as an engraver, if not European printmaking in general. Aptly described as an intellectual self-portrait of Dürer himself, it depicts the personification of Melancholy brooding among a variety of tools and instruments that make reference to geometry (considered to be the underlying language of all creative pursuits). The numbered grid is a magic square; its four quadrants, corners and centers all equal the number 34. To its immediate left, an hourglass suggests the pressure that creative individuals feel to perfect their crafts within the limited time allotted in life.

What common thread, if any, unites Dürer's master prints is a matter of no small controversy among scholars. One theory has it that each represents one of the three modes of virtuous living; Knight Death and the Devil being the active, Saint Jerome in His Study the contemplative, and Melencholia I the intellectual. 

The Ibis’s giclée process uses archival pigment inks on 100% cotton rag paper to achieve crisp detail and rich, lasting color. Unlike posters, they will not yellow with time, but will maintain their original quality for as long as you own them.

All of The Ibis's prints come with a 100% happiness guarantee. If you are disappointed in your purchase for any reason, you are welcome to return it for a full refund.