Description
Albrecht Dürer’s Portrait of Artist Holding a Thistle presents the young painter with careful attention to face, clothing, and gesture. Long hair falls beneath a red cap, and a pale pleated shirt contrasts with the dark outer garment. The small plant held in his hands adds a delicate detail against the nearly black background.
Dated 1493, the work is an early painted self-portrait. Dürer’s direct gaze and the fine description of fabric give it both personal immediacy and formal assurance. The plant has prompted different interpretations, but the painting’s clearest force lies in its thoughtful presentation of a young artist examining his own image.
Learn about the printing process in our guide to giclée prints. Explore more Albrecht Dürer prints, or view Self-Portrait.
