Artwork

Portrait of the Artist

Portrait of the Artist, by Abraham Wuchters, oil, 1653
Portrait of the Artist, by Abraham Wuchters, oil, 1653

Portrait of the Artist is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Wuchters. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Completed in 1653, this oil painting on panel functions as a self-portrait, with the artist Abraham Wuchters serving as both the creator and the sole subject.

Completed in 1653, this oil painting on panel functions as a self-portrait, with the artist Abraham Wuchters serving as both the creator and the sole subject. The work's iconography is defined by its direct depiction of the painter himself, adhering to the conventions of the portrait genre to capture the artist's likeness. By positioning himself as the main subject, the piece represents a personal assertion of identity and professional presence within the seventeenth-century artistic landscape.

The composition focuses entirely on the figure of Wuchters, utilizing the medium of oil paint to render his features for the collection now held at the Statens Museum for Kunst.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring 69 cm in height by 51 cm in width. It presents a straightforward frontal composition that emphasizes the sitter’s direct gaze and modest attire, reflecting the restrained realism typical of 17th‑century Dutch portraiture. The surface shows a smooth application of pigment with fine brushwork defining facial features and clothing texture.

History & Provenance

Abraham Wuchters painted Portrait of the Artist in 1653, an oil on panel work measuring 69 cm by 51 cm, depicting himself. The painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. It is classified as a portrait and self-portrait, reflecting its subject and genre.

The work was created as a personal likeness, with no record of external commissioning. Its inception is recorded as 1653, aligning with its dated creation.

The painting is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. Created in 1653, the work measures 69 cm in height and 51 cm in width. It is executed in oil paint on a panel support.

No specific inventory number or exhibition history for this work is provided in the available sources.

Overview

Created in 1653, this oil-on-canvas self‑portrait presents the Dutch‑born painter Abraham Wuchters at work in his adopted Danish milieu. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery of Art, the Statens Museum for Kunst, and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with the visual language of the mid‑seventeenth‑century Baroque.

Context

The portrait reflects the diffusion of Dutch Golden Age aesthetics into Danish Baroque art, a cultural exchange in which Wuchters and contemporaries such as Karel van Mander III played pivotal roles. Its execution demonstrates the period’s emphasis on realism, personal identity, and the technical mastery of oil painting.

Portrait of the Artist
Portrait of the Artist

Artist & collection

Portrait of Abraham Wuchters

Artist

Abraham Wuchters

Abraham Wuchters (1608 – 23 May 1682) was a Brabant-born Dutch-Danish painter and engraver.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portrait of the Artist?

Portrait of the Artist was painted by Abraham Wuchters in 1653-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of the Artist?

Portrait of the Artist is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of the Artist?

Portrait of the Artist is associated with Dutch Golden Age.