Portrait of a man, bust-length, wearing a hat 1510 - 1515

Hans Schäufelein rendered this bust-length portrait of a man with red chalk on paper sometime in the early 16th century. Schäufelein was working during the Northern Renaissance, a period where artists were deeply influenced by humanist ideals and a renewed interest in classical antiquity, but, of course, north of the Alps. The sitter's gaze is averted; his expression unreadable. The elaborate curls and stylish hat hint at a certain social standing. The portrait provides a window into the sartorial and social codes of the time, reflecting the era's emphasis on personal identity and status through fashion. Note how Schäufelein delicately models the man’s face and hair. While he references classical ideals of beauty, Schäufelein also captures the unique individuality of his sitter. The gaze seems to reflect a kind of inner contemplation, an emerging sense of self that Renaissance humanism championed. In that sense, this portrait becomes more than just an image, it embodies the period's evolving understanding of identity.