Neel Odedara - 16th Century Art

For this assignment, I chose a Self-Portrait done by the German Renaissance artist Albrecth Durer. Durer was born in Nuremberg in 1471, and was an apprentice to a goldsmith. However, Durer was also an accomplished artisan, known for his attention to detail. This quality really comes across in this self-portrait given the rich color and intricacy of the figure. However, what struck me most about this piece was that it seems to have a very messianic element to it - in addition to the long brown hair and beard, the light that falls right on the man's face makes him come off as a christ-like figure. If that was the artist's intention, then it was a very bold move on his part, and calls into question issues of perception and reality in art.