Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, and theorist of the Northern Renaissance who lived from 1471 to 1528. Dürer was born in Nuremberg, Germany, where he first apprenticed with his father, a goldsmith. He went on to study with several other artists, and soon gained a reputation as one of the most talented painters and printmakers of his generation.

Dürer’s work was characterized by its precise, meticulous attention to detail, as well as his innovative use of perspective and composition. He was particularly interested in the human form, and many of his paintings and prints depict religious scenes or portraits that are highly detailed and realistic. Dürer was also known for his skill as a printmaker, and produced a large number of woodcuts and engravings that were highly influential in the development of printmaking as an art form. Today, his work is recognized as one of the defining achievements of the Northern Renaissance, and continues to be admired for its technical precision, beauty, and emotional power.