Albrecht Dürer preferred to take inspiration from nature…
Albrecht Dürer once said that “Art is embedded in nature and they who can extract it, have it”. He was born in Nuremberg, Germany and at the age of 15 became an apprentice under Micheal Wolgemut. During this time he learned the process of engraving/ woodcut printmaking which would prove to be one of his most famous and preferred methods of making art. In 1507 Dürer travelled to Italy and began painting. At first he would work on many commissions including portraits and altar pieces. However, his true passion was to imitate nature, specifically animals. He mainly painted with watercolors and then used a pen to fill in the details. His paintings were known for being so realistic that they were often used for educational purposes. One of his most popular subjects was birds, some examples include: The Little Owl (1505), Wing of a Blue Roller (1512), and The Nutcracker (1509). Dürer knew he was a good painter so he would entertain the position but his preferred method of creating was through wood-cut engraving and drawing which could provide him with more freedom to apply intricate details as seen in his drawing of a parrot.
