Male Nude Holding a Mirror [recto]

Male Nude Holding a Mirror [recto] by Albrecht Dürer, executed around 1500, is a foundational example of a preparatory drawing from the crucial transitionary period spanning the 15th and 16th centuries. Rendered in pen and brown ink on laid paper, this work demonstrates the German master’s rigorous approach to depicting human anatomy and classical proportion. The drawing is noteworthy for the technical processes visible on its surface; the paper has been pricked in several places with the points of a pair of compasses and lightly indented with a stylus. These markings strongly suggest that the artist was preparing to transfer the detailed figure study to a different surface, likely a woodblock or copper plate, for the creation of one of the many prints that secured Dürer's international fame.

The carefully studied male figure, presented dynamically in a classical pose, holds a small circular mirror. This intense focus on the idealized human form reflects the central tenets of Humanism that defined the Northern Renaissance. Dürer’s dedication to mastering anatomical representation set him apart within the German tradition of 1401 to 1500, blending Italian formal principles with Northern precision.

Dürer utilized drawings of this caliber as both research documents and intellectual blueprints for his influential graphic arts output. As a pivotal figure in the history of European art, his surviving drawings provide essential context for his better-known paintings and engravings. This historically significant work is currently classified as a drawing within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The drawing’s technical complexity offers invaluable insight into the rigorous working methods of the artist. Today, high-resolution reproductions of Dürer’s studies often reside within the public domain, allowing scholars worldwide to access and appreciate the foundational steps of his mastery.