2011 Artist Blog - Entry #24

Lamentation for Christ, Oil on panel, 147 × 118 cm

Self-Portrait, oil on linden, 26.4 x 19.2 in

Albrecht Dürer was a German painter from Nuremberg living in late XV and early XVI centuries. He started drawing at a very young age and has created a self-portrait at 13 years of age which is very impressive. Although painting was his "weapon of choice", he was also proficient in engraving and printmaking. Making use of his knowledge of perspective and ideal proportions, he has created numerous portraits of people of different statuses - from noble aristocrats to ordinary peasants as well as multiple religious imagery for churches depicting life of Christ and other holy ones from the Bible. Durer's religious work is highly stylized as well as idealistic but that is to be expected as he was born in what still was Holy Roman Empire. The same cannot be said about portraiture. Though being not very naturalistic, the likeness of individuals is apparent and well executed. The character is captured with high precision which makes work one of a kind that cannot be mistaken to be someone else except for the person portrayed. Looking at Durer's own self-portrait paintings, one can see how carefully he was observing his own facial features capturing the essence of his own self. He was considered one of the most influential painters of his time and still is. Careful use of tone, light, and composition are what play the major role in his paintings.(word count - 230)

Adam and Eve, Oil on panel

Portrait of Oswolt Krel, Oil on panel