Albrecht Durer
Known as “The Genius with a Great Soul” and considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance, Albrecht Durer was born in Germany in 1471. Although he was an accomplished draftsman, painter, and writer, his greatest artistic impact was on printmaking. He apprenticed with his father, a metalworker, as well as Martin Wolgemut. His innovative prints are known for their incredible attention to detail and precision and frequently involved exotic animals, maps, and mythological and religious scenes. Some of his notable woodcuttings include Four Horseman in his Apocalypse series (1498) and Knight, Death and Devil (1513).
He was a huge admirer of Italian artists, particularly Leonardo da Vinci, and traveled to Italy twice. He adopted elements of Venetian design and color in many of his pieces including the altarpiece, Feast of the Rose Garlands (1506). He is also recognized for creating a number of self-portraits, such as Self Portrait (1500) by drawing, painting, and printing them. By his early 20s, he had already made a powerful impact on the art world by becoming one of the first European artists to paint landscapes and introducing woodcutting as an artistic medium. He died in 1528.
