Albrecht Dürer

I have become fascinated by the works of  Dürer since copying “Young Hare”.   What fascinates me is the fact that he would have spent a great deal of time with the layering of the paint in order to get the depth, colours, body contours and direction of the fur in order to give the creature credible and almost photographic life.  However more than a picture it has a story to tell.  One wonders if it is waiting for an opportunity to run off into the safety of the woods.  It is certainly poised in such a way with the eyes ever watchful.

The exciting part for me as an artist is that I taught myself to paint in this way (I know I do have a long way to go) – starting with an underwash and meticulously painting each hair to achieve the complex 3 dimensional body shapes of animals.  Learning about Dürer has spurred me on to refine this technique in order to improve the standard of my own  artworks.

Dürer included a hare in the 1504 copperplate engraving Adam and Eve, the hare is turning away, half-hidden behind the legs of Eve. Much of his work was copied by his contemporaries which was a pretty good indication of the high esteem in which he was held.

I must admit to being very impressed with his works of the rhinos which he had never seen.  quite extraordinary illustrations from a man well versed in the physical attributes of living creatures.

"Young Hare" after Albrecht Dürer 1502