#6. 16th Century Art in Northern Europe.

Albrecht Durer is respected as father of German art. Also he accomplished Renaissance from Northern Europe art as first and greatest artist. When he was 19, he went to travel for four years. He went to Italy two times and when was there, he saw some of the great artist’s works such as Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea Mantegna. At this time, in 1494 he made his first self-portrait.  In 1500, Durer made self-portrait as bilateral symmetry in frontal side and it remained secular portrait in Italy. Because of that after his death, worship for Durer has taken on religion character and his works considered as halidom. I guess he wanted to show pride of creator. Before his self-portrait pose also slightly toward front but this one is fully toward to front.  In 1500 and after, the frontal pose in the painting was connected with images from medieval religious art and above all the images of Jesus.

In this painting, he is staring intensely and directly to the viewer. I guess he did not care about the background and maybe he did not regard to time or place. His face is symmetrical and little bit elongated also he has brown long curly hair drop down on soft fur. It feels like he is wearing a good quality fur clothes. In bottom of middle, his right hand elongated upward and it feels like this gesture express something and it could express blessing. In addition, the light falls down irregularly and his right side is more bring into relief so it makes realism. As people well known, he made is signature on his works also in this painting on his right and left side, his signature is there. It is become famous and unique in that period, so copy of this signature was popular for a while.

Durer was always an innovator, also he studied and influenced by the Italian Renaissance art works such as the rules of proportion, perspective, and harmony propounded.  Especially, in this painting, the three-quarter pose is related to Italian Renaissance. The three quarter pose and triangular composition makes painting stable so it constant with Italian High Renaissance norms of harmony and balance and it reflect that Durer influenced by Italian Renaissance art. His long curly hair extended to his shoulder and it makes more three quarter pose. Also, the uneven highlight makes more intense mood and triangular composition.  In all of his self-portrait, he highlighted to his fashion and hair style. His fashionable sense also makes good looking.

I guess that after Albrecht Durer traveled and learned about Italian High Renaissance, he got impact and inspired many things. So he could have made a lot of beautiful and great art works. Woodcut is also one of his famous works and we could see his personal creative in that. Because of his brave adventure, we could see the great works of art and great history.