Portrait of Christian II, King of Denmark 1521

This is Albrecht Dürer's ‘Portrait of Christian II, King of Denmark’, made as a drawing in 1521. Dürer was at the epicentre of the Northern Renaissance, a time when artists sought to capture the likeness of their subjects with unprecedented realism. Dürer elevates Christian, a powerful Northern European monarch. But look closely, and you'll notice a certain vulnerability in the King's eyes. Christian II was known for his progressive, yet controversial, legal reforms which favoured the merchant class. This made him enemies amongst the nobles and he was ultimately deposed. Here, Dürer captures a leader in a moment of potential uncertainty, perhaps alluding to the tenuous nature of power, and the shifting sands of political favour. The emotional depth of this work lies in its ability to capture the complexities of identity, power, and humanity in a single, striking image. Dürer's portrait invites us to reflect on how we perceive those in positions of authority and the personal stories behind their public personas.