The artwork “Portrait of a man (Paul Hofhaimer or Hans Tucher)” by Albrecht Dürer dates back to around 1518-1520. It belongs to the Northern Renaissance period and is classified as a portrait. The piece is currently housed at the British Museum in London, UK.
The portrait displays a profile view of a man who appears to be in his thirties or forties. He wears a sizable, elaborate beret-style hat that drapes elegantly over the side of his head. His hair is cut just above his shoulder, neatly framing his face. The facial details are meticulously rendered, with Dürer capturing the subject’s attentive gaze, high cheekbones, and a slightly downturned mouth, suggesting a pensive or composed temperament. The attire of the man is indicative of the fashion of the period; he wears what appears to be a fur-lined overgarment with a ruffled neckline underneath, indicating a status of affluence or importance in society.
Dürer’s use of fine lines to articulate the textures of the fur and fabric showcase his masterful skill in creating depth and realism. The portrait, done primarily in a monochromatic scheme, focuses on the interplay of light and shadow to bring forth the three-dimensionality of the subject.
