Erasmo De Rotterdam 1520

This likeness of Erasmo de Rotterdam was rendered by Albrecht Durer, likely around 1520, in a humble material: graphite. While we often associate Durer with printmaking, and therefore with distribution and the rise of a capitalist art market, it’s instructive to consider this drawing. Note the sensitive handling of the chalk, the artist’s mastery of light and shadow, and the way the weight of the line gives volume to Erasmo’s face and clothing. Durer, though clearly a virtuoso, engages with the materiality of chalk as a mode of conveying a likeness and capturing the essence of character. It’s fascinating to consider how the social status of drawing has changed over time. Here, it is clearly a preparatory study, yet it stands alone as a testament to Durer’s artistic prowess. Seeing the hand of the artist, and the immediacy of the medium, allows us to appreciate the skill and intent behind it. The value lies not just in the image, but in the labor, and the context of its making.