Head of a Young Man 1507

Albrecht Altdorfer created this etching of a young man's head in sixteenth-century Germany, a period of immense social upheaval. At this time, the printing press was still relatively new and this allowed for the widespread distribution of images and ideas. Altdorfer lived through the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, an event that shattered the religious and political landscape of Europe. His work should be understood in the context of this rapidly changing world. How might his imagery be interpreted by different social and religious groups? This delicate print speaks to us now through institutional structures such as museums and universities that teach us how to understand it. To gain a deeper understanding of this artwork, one might consult historical documents, religious texts, and studies of printing and the Reformation.