Portrait of Albrecht Dürer the Elder 1490

This portrait of Albrecht Dürer the Elder was painted by his son, Albrecht Dürer the Younger, in 1490, likely using oil on wood panel. The painting's significance extends beyond its aesthetic value, offering insights into the social and economic realities of the Dürer family. Albrecht the Elder was a goldsmith, a profession demanding precision, skill, and manual labor. The artist highlights his father's weathered face and working hands, holding what seems to be a rosary. The painting also serves as a testament to the burgeoning status of artists during the Renaissance. By immortalizing his father in paint, Dürer elevates him to a level of respectability and enduring recognition that transcends the elder Dürer's status as a craftsman. This conflation of the craftsperson and the artist underscores the blurring boundaries between labor, family, identity, and art during a period of profound social transformation. It reminds us that art isn't created in a vacuum, but is deeply embedded in the social fabric of its time.