Original: Wanderjahre and marriage ( 1490 -- 94 ) After completing his term of apprenticeship , Dürer followed the common German custom of taking Wanderjahre -- in effect gap years -- in which the apprentice learned skills from artists in other areas ; Dürer was to spend about four years away .
Simplified: After completing his term of apprenticeship in 1489 , Dürer followed the common German custom of taking a wanderjahre -- in effect a gap year .