born on May 21, 1471, in Nuremberg, Germany, is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance. His father, a goldsmith of Hungarian descent, initially trained Dürer in his trade, but the young Dürer soon demonstrated a remarkable talent for drawing and painting. By the age of 15, he was apprenticed to the leading Nuremberg painter, Michael Wolgemut, where he honed his skills and learned the techniques of woodcut printmaking, which would become a significant aspect of his artistic career.

Throughout his career, Dürer created an extensive body of work that includes paintings, prints, engravings, and theoretical writings on art. His most famous works, like "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," "Melencolia I," and "Knight, Death, and the Devil," showcase his exceptional skill in detail, composition, and symbolism. Dürer was also a pioneering self-portraitist, capturing his own likeness with a level of psychological depth and realism that was unprecedented at the time.