A winged figure crowned with a wreath sits at the right, her head resting on her hand in a pose of deep thought or melancholy. She is surrounded by a dense array of objects, including a large polyhedron at her feet, a sphere, a sleeping dog, and a collection of tools such as a saw, hammer, nails, and compasses scattered across the ground. To her left, a small winged child perches on a millstone, holding a set of calipers and gazing downward.

Behind them, a ladder leans against a large architectural structure, on which an hourglass, a bell, and a magic square are mounted. The background reveals a distant seashore with small buildings and a calm body of water, rendered with intricate lines. Every surface is described with meticulous cross-hatching and fine lines, creating a rich texture and a sense of depth throughout the composition.

The light falls dramatically from the left, casting deep shadows and highlighting the folds of the central figure’s robe and the facets of the geometric solid. Small details abound, such as the keys and purse hanging from the figure’s belt, the delicate pattern of her wings, and the faint numerals visible in the magic square. The engraving is monochrome, relying on the density and direction of lines to convey form, shadow, and atmosphere. A signature and the date '1514' are incised in the lower right corner, identifying the work as by Albrecht Dürer.

Melancholie was created in 1514, as noted in the catalogue and the Rijksmuseum's record. The Rijksmuseum's record gives the title as Melancholie and confirms the artist as Albrecht Dürer.