Portrait of Jakob Fugger 

Albrecht Dürer made this drawing of Jakob Fugger in Germany, sometime around the early 16th century. It's a striking image that reflects the changing social landscape of the time. Fugger was a hugely successful merchant and banker, and his wealth played a crucial role in financing the election of Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor. Dürer, by creating this portrait, participates in the construction of Fugger’s legacy. The detailed rendering of his features and clothing elevates him to a level of importance previously reserved for royalty and the church. This drawing isn't just a likeness; it's a statement about the rising power of merchants in the early modern period. To understand it better, we can look at archival records, account books, and other documents that reveal the intricate connections between art, commerce, and political power in Dürer’s Germany. It reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.