“Self-Portrait with a wrap” is an artwork by Albrecht Dürer, created during the years 1491-1492. This piece, executed in pen on paper, is an example of the Northern Renaissance art movement. As a self-portrait, it offers an intimate look into the artist’s self-perception during this period in his career. The artwork belongs to the genre of self-portraiture and is presently housed at the Albertina museum located in Vienna, Austria.
The image displays the half-length figure of the artist drawn with fine pen lines. His hand is raised to his cheek in a thoughtful or possibly melancholic gesture. The facial features are rendered with remarkable detail and expressiveness, capturing the intense gaze of the artist as he looks directly out of the picture plane. The folds of the garment on the head and the drapery around the hand are indicated with delicate, yet confident, strokes, reflecting the artist’s mastery of the medium. The paper itself appears aged, with some foxing and discoloration that suggests the work’s historical provenance.
