Reinhard Bröker

For over 500 years, Albrecht Dürer has been the subject of discussion. For just as long, there have been rumors suggesting that he may have been homosexual. Bodo Brinkmann (currently at the Kunstmuseum Basel) and Matthias Mende (former head of the Graphic Collection in Nuremberg) have pointed out some time ago that it would be important to explore the hypothesis of whether and to what extent homoerotic iconography can be found in Dürer's work in order to address central questions about it. Reinhard Bröker attempts to analyze some of Dürer's images from this very perspective. He highlights numerous intriguing, surprising, and thought-provoking details that will invigorate the discussion about Dürer and his work. Additionally, the author sketches a cultural-historical picture of the late Middle Ages, touching on aspects such as bathing culture, masculinity rituals, fashion, violence, and abuse, which will also appeal to and captivate the interested layperson.