Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait

Unknown artist

1838

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a person with short, wavy hair and a serious expression. They’re wearing a high-collared shirt with a cravat tied neatly at the neck. The background is plain and dark, keeping all focus on the face. The brushstrokes are rough, especially around the hair and collar, giving it a slightly uneven look. This style was common in early portraiture. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow like this.

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