Ulrich Van Büler
Original title: Ulrich Van Büler
kurzbeschreibung
This woodcut portrait by Albrecht Dürer depicts Ulrich Van Büler in profile, dated 1522. The sitter wears a cap and a patterned vest, with a Latin inscription below. Dürer's mastery of the woodcut medium is evident in the fine lines and shading.
Description
The portrait shows a man in strict profile, facing left, with a cap that has slipped slightly backward. He has short, wavy hair and a beard, and wears a collared shirt with a vest featuring a net-like pattern. The background is plain, resembling a wall, with the sitter's name and the date 'M.D.XXII' at the top, and a Latin inscription by Dürer at the lower right.
Context
Albrecht Dürer was a leading German Renaissance artist known for his high-quality woodcuts. This portrait was created in 1522, during a period when Dürer was producing detailed prints of notable figures. The inscription likely identifies the sitter and acknowledges Dürer as the artist, reflecting the Renaissance interest in individual portraiture and classical references.
Impact
The profile view gives the portrait a medallion-like, classical feel, while the intricate linework draws the eye across the textures of the clothing and facial hair. The plain background focuses attention on the sitter's features, creating a sense of dignified simplicity.
Technique
This is a woodcut, a relief printing technique where the image is carved into a wooden block, inked, and pressed onto paper. Dürer achieved subtle shading through varying line thickness and density, demonstrating his exceptional control over the medium.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public domain (CC0)