Albrecht Dürer's first known self-portrait, created in 1484 at the age of only 13, is a remarkable testament to his early talent and mastery of the demanding silverpoint technique. Silverpoint is a traditional drawing method that is difficult to perfect, in which precise lines are drawn with a silver wire or rod on a specially prepared paper surface.
Dürer's self-portrait from 1484 is considered to be the earliest surviving child's drawing and the first surviving self-portrait in Western art. The young artist demonstrated incredible skill and control in reproducing his own image using the demanding medium of silverpoint drawing.
The 275 x 196 mm self-portrait, which is now in the Albertina Graphic Collection in Vienna, was probably created as a demonstration piece to show Dürer's skills to his father, who was a goldsmith, and to potential patrons. It offers a fascinating insight into the early development of an artistic genius who would later become one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance.
Dürer's precocious Self-Portrait marks the beginning of a remarkable series of self-portraits he created throughout his life, which offer insights into his evolving artistic style, self-perception, and the cultural context of his times. This early work, executed with confidence and skill by the 13-year-old Dürer, foreshadows the brilliance and innovation that would characterise his later career.
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