Artwork
Albrecht Dürer at Age Fifty-Six
Albrecht Dürer at Age Fifty-Six is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Erhard Schön. It dates from 1528 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer at Age Fifty-Six is a woodcut portrait created by Erhard Schön around 1528. The work is executed on laid paper and showcases Schön's skill as a printmaker.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Albrecht Dürer in his later years, featuring a man with a distinctive facial structure, beard, and attire. The subject's neutral expression and gaze to the left convey a sense of introspection.
Technique & Style
Schön's woodcut demonstrates a Renaissance influence, characterized by attention to detail and realism. The use of a light beige background and a small shield-like emblem adds to the portrait's nuanced composition.
History & Provenance
Erhard Schön, trained in his father's workshop, was influenced by Dürer's printmaking style. This portrait reflects Schön's adaptation of Dürer's approach and represents one of his contributions to the medium following Dürer's death.
Artist & collection
Artist
Erhard Schön (c. 1491–1542) was a German woodcut designer and painter. Schön was born in Nuremberg as the son of painter Max Schön III. He probably started to learn his trade as an artist in the workshop of his father.…
