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DÜRER, Albrecht: Studies of Self-Portrait, Hand and Pillow

🖼 Studies of Self-Portrait, Hand and Pillow, 1493
Pen and ink on paper
28 × 20 cm
New York, USA

Albrecht Dürer created this intimate study sheet during his early career, showcasing the observational intensity that would define Northern Renaissance art. The combination of self-portrait sketches, a carefully rendered hand, and a meticulously studied pillow reveals Dürer's systematic approach to mastering human anatomy and textures—fundamentals he believed essential to artistic excellence. These rapid studies document the artist's working method and his fascination with capturing both his own features and the subtle play of light on varied surfaces.

The story of art
The story of art
E. H. Gombrich
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