DÜRER, Albrecht: Self-portrait at 22

Self-portrait at 22 Albrecht Dürer's self-portrait from 1493 stands as one of the earliest independent self-portraits in Western art, marking a bold declaration of the artist's emerging status and self-awareness. Created when the young German master was establishing his reputation in Nuremberg, the work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance fascination with precise detail and introspective portraiture. The painting's careful attention to Dürer's refined features and fashionable dress reveals how ambitious artists were beginning to present themselves not merely as craftsmen, but as educated, worthy subjects of artistic scrutiny.