Nativity

Albrecht Altdorfer painted this Nativity in 1507, during the formative period when he was developing his revolutionary approach to landscape painting in Regensburg. Altdorfer was among the first European painters to treat landscape as an expressive subject in its own right. Even in religious scenes, the natural setting assumes a dominant, almost mystical presence. The oil medium allowed for rich tonal transitions and glazed layers of color that created luminous depth impossible with the older tempera technique.

Oil on panel with Altdorfer's characteristic atmospheric light effects and richly detailed landscape setting. The nocturnal illumination and dense foliage demonstrate his pioneering approach to the Danube School style.