He was apprenticed under the painter Michael Wolgemut from 1486 to 1489. This was disappointing to his father.

Even then she supported him. She was instrumental in her husband's success, selling his works and running his workshop during his absences.

Rapidly, his printmaking lead to success across Europe, with his Apocalypse series of woodcuts from 1498 acting as a catalyst for this change. His monogram signature is highly recognizable, and a testament to his confidence in his own art.

Dürer's maker's mark was frequently counterfeited by engraver Marcantonio Raimondi, which led him to file a complaint with the Venetian government. The court ruled that Raimondi could continue producing copies of Dürer's art, provided he did not reproduce the artist's monogram. This case is recognized as an early dispute in the evolution of intellectual property law.