Self-Portrait at Age Thirty-Five 1537

In 1537, the German artist Heinrich Aldegrever created this self-portrait using engraving, a printmaking technique that allowed for the wide distribution of images. Aldegrever was part of a generation of artists in Northern Europe who wrestled with the impact of the Reformation on artistic production. As religious institutions lost their patronage power, artists had to find new markets for their work. The rise of portraiture, particularly self-portraiture, was one response to these changing social conditions. Here, Aldegrever presents himself as a confident and cultured individual, with careful attention paid to the details of his clothing. This image speaks to the growing importance of the individual in Renaissance society, as well as the increasing role of artists in shaping their own public image. To better understand Aldegrever’s world, historians consult a range of primary sources, from pamphlets and broadsides to inventories and personal letters. Art is never made in a vacuum.