The Holy Family are grouped to the right of a large forked tree. The Virgin Mary's parents, Joachim with a Rosary in his hands, and Anna are on the Jesus child's left. Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus, are on his right. The Virgin Mary is tenderly handing the child to Saint Anna. The action is concentrated in the middle of the picture. The men remain aside from the event they are watching. The tree visible in the background is aligned with the Christ child and symbolises the power of faith. On the left, a building with a high roof can be seen looming behind Mary and Joseph. The persons are depicted in German Renaissance costumes.
Dürer's monogram is in the upper-left corner of the woodcut. On top of it is the year of completion 1511.
The Holy Family with Joachim and Anna under a tree