Post #6 16th Century Art in Northern Europe

Albrect Durer was a true original. He was from Germany, where there was no artists guild system, allowing Durer to be less restrained as an artist than others who had to work their way up the ladder. He traveled and trained in Italy and when influenced by what he saw and learned there was able to mix the two different cultures in his life to do the most for him artistically. It is said that Durer was the first humanist artist in the north and even more impressive, that he is the first "artist" by modern definition. The level of personal fame he was able to achieve, the geographical reach his name had was a first of its kind. Durer was one of the first to utilize and take advantage of print making. Where an artist would make one piece to be viewed at one place, Durer could make a woodcut and print copy after copy to be seen all around. He was also mindful of making prints that were popular with people of the time, in order to help circulation. Some of the these, as seen in lecture, were the pre-protestant Adam and Eve and then the image of the rhinoceros. The rhinoceros is interesting because it was made from just a sketch Durer had and he, and most all of Germany, had never really seen one in real life. The result is still a decent representation of a real rhino. In the Adam and Eve, the Italian influences on Durer's art are much more apparent. First by seeing that the two figures are nude, with a large focus on the human body and anatomy. They are carefully proportioned, with a naturalism to the muscle definition and a realism to shadow and depth. The figures even stand in the contrapposto stance that was popular in the classical and southern Renaissance periods. Durer also did a number of self portraits and the earlier ones had very southern influence. They were set with him at a three quarter pose, very realistic use of color and strong attention to detail in areas of hair clothing and shadow.

The piece I would like to specifically look at is called Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and was created around 1519 by Albrecht Durer. The subject of this painting is direct and obvious, the three figures done in portrait fashion. They are composed in a triangle style similar to what was once popular in the south and the piece is very balanced and calm. All of the figures are naturally portrayed and there is a realism to the way there bodies are proportioned and interacting within the painting. There is strong attention to detail, common in the north, in things like the detail of the clothing, how it folds and interacts with the body, especially around Saint Anne's chin. There is also a visible change in textures between one garb to the next, another interest of northern renaissance artists. The subject matter of the piece retains its religious quality but is much more subdued than earlier religious pieces. There are no crucifixion scenes, obvious symbols, foreshadowing or stylized glows or halos added to either the mother or child, like we have seen in other paintings. There is the inclusion of a saint, and the virgin appears to be praying over the baby  is the way Durer chooses to communicate its religious context. They even look to be wearing more modern clothing than would be worn at biblical times, another popular style technique. Durer is sure to add his signature "AD" logo that he signs his work with. This is part of his way of elevating his status as an artist, something artists have been trying to do since the early renaissance, but he is the first to do it this way. Early renaissance artists wanted to show that there was theory, teaching and special skill within their profession. Durer believed this too, as he kept notes and wrote theories of his own, but he was also able to elevate himself personally, as an individual, to the point of fame. He not only signs his work, but has created a recognizable trademark that allows the viewer to know who made the piece they are looking at.