DÜRER, Albrecht
(b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg)

Portrait of Ulrich Varnbühler

1522
Chalk and charcoal, 415 x 320 mm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

This is a preliminary drawing for the woodcut of the same year, which carries over the line work almost completely — not only the tight wavy parallel lines in the neck, but also the broad downward flow of the line over the shoulders (truly characteristic of a freehand drawing). Only the ear is more cartilaginous in the woodcut, and the background is composed of pure horizontal lines.




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