A Young Girl of Cologne and Dürer's Wife 1520

Albrecht Dürer created this drawing of two women, titled "A Young Girl of Cologne and Dürer's Wife," using pen and ink. Dürer lived in a time of significant social and cultural shifts, including the rise of humanism, the Reformation, and evolving views on women's roles. The contrast between the two women—one young and the other presumably Dürer's wife, older and careworn—invites speculation about their identities and social positions. The young girl is identified by her place of origin, while the older woman is recognized through her relationship to Dürer, highlighting the patriarchal structures of the time. We may wonder about the lack of individual identity ascribed to the two women, each being defined by the social context of their lives. These likenesses encourage us to reflect on the experiences of women in Dürer’s time, and how their identities were shaped by age, location, and relationships. The artwork serves as a visual document, inviting viewers to consider the lives and stories of these women and the societal forces that influenced them.