The artwork “Portrait of the Blessed Arnold of town” by Albrecht Dürer, created in the Northern Renaissance period, depicts a subject in the portrait genre.
This drawing showcases a male figure viewed in profile. He appears to be middle-aged, with distinct facial features such as a high forehead, a prominent nose, and a tightly drawn mouth. The figure is adorned with contemporary attire of the period, featuring a large, flopped hat and a collar with frills which was typical of the era’s fashion. His clothes are shown with a high level of detail, using fine lines to create the textures of fabrics and the layers within his garments. Though devoid of color, the artwork is expressive and conveys a sense of dignity and character, which is characteristic of Dürer’s expert portrayal of human subjects. The lines are both confident and delicate, indicative of Dürer’s mastery in engraving and drawing. The initials “AD” likely represent the signature of Albrecht Dürer, and the year “1520” indicates the time of the artwork’s creation.
