Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is a print by the Northern Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1537 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Heinrich Aldegrever, a German artist linked to the 'Little Masters,' produced a self-portrait engraving in 1537, characteristic of his small-scale, detailed print work in the post-Dürer generation.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving portrays Aldegrever with a beard, mustache, hat, and cloak, gazing to his right. A Latin inscription confirms the subject as the artist himself, suggesting an assertion of identity or professionalism.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous detail, the work exemplifies Aldegrever's skill in engraving, a medium he used to create intricate, small-format images.
History & Provenance
Created in 1537, the self-portrait reflects Aldegrever's activity during the Renaissance, though specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Emerging in the generation after Albrecht Dürer, Aldegrever's work, including this self-portrait, was influenced by and contributed to the broader Renaissance movement in Europe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
