A dramatic scene unfolds in Het openen van het vijfde en het zesde zegel, where the composition is divided into a celestial upper register and a tumultuous earthly lower half. At the top, a group of angels and robed figures cluster around an altar set amidst swirling clouds, their gestures animated and expressive as they look toward the central figure who stands behind the altar, arms raised in a commanding pose. To the left of the altar, two angels cradle the bodies of the dead, their forms limp and lifeless, while to the right, more angels and figures crowd together, some with hands clasped in prayer or awe.

The entire heavenly assembly is rendered with intricate hatching and fine lines, giving texture to the clouds and the flowing garments. Below, a dramatic burst of energy descends from the heavens: a rain of stars, each one drawn with sharp, pointed rays, falls toward the earth, scattering across a rugged landscape of rocks and hills. On the left, a radiant sun with a human face shines fiercely, while on the right, a crescent moon, also with a face, glows against a background of parallel lines suggesting light and movement.

The lower section is crowded with figures in various states of terror and despair, their bodies twisted and their faces contorted as they shield themselves from the falling stars. A woman and child cower in the left foreground, the woman’s mouth open in a cry and her hands raised defensively, while beside her another figure throws up their arms in alarm. To the right, a group of men in elaborate robes and headgear, including a crowned king and a bishop, huddle together, covering their faces and ducking from the celestial onslaught.

In the center, a lone figure kneels on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by fallen stars, their posture one of supplication or despair. The entire scene is alive with movement, from the swirling clouds and streaming rays to the frantic gestures of the figures below. The artist uses dense cross-hatching and varied line thickness to create dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, emphasizing the supernatural energy of the event.

The composition is tightly packed, with little empty space, heightening the sense of chaos and urgency. Every detail, from the expressive faces to the textures of rock and fabric, is rendered with precision, characteristic of the printmaking technique visible in the crisp, black-and-white lines. Het openen van het vijfde en het zesde zegel is attributed to Albrecht Dürer, as stated in the museum’s catalogue. The Rijksmuseum’s record gives the title in Dutch and notes the work’s technique as letterpress printing.