Self-Portrait

William Merritt Chase's Self-Portrait was painted in 1915 in oil on canvas. An inscription on the work reads "To my friend Annie T. Lang / Wm. M. Chase. / 1915," suggesting an early association with Annie Traquair Lang (1885–1918), possibly one of the artist's students.

The painting subsequently passed through the New York dealer William Macbeth, Inc., from which the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington purchased it in November 1923. It remained with the Corcoran until 2014, when it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it is currently held.

William Merritt Chase's 1915 Self-Portrait, an oil on canvas measuring 63.5 × 51.44 cm, depicts the artist directly and was originally linked to his student Annie Traquair Lang before entering the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1923 and later the National Gallery of Art in 2014. The painting's status as a self-portrait situates it within Chase's broader portraiture, illustrating his engagement with personal identity and his role as a central figure in early twentieth-century American art.

The self-portrait painted by William Merritt Chase in 1915 has come to symbolize the artist's mature self-representation. The canvas entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1923 and was later acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 2014, underscoring its recognized cultural value. Its presence in both institutions highlights its enduring relevance and scholarly attention, positioning the piece as an important reference point for studies of American portraiture and early 20th-century art.

William Merritt Chase's Self-Portrait, painted in 1915, is an oil on canvas work capturing the artist in his later years. The painting presents Chase seated, directly engaging the viewer with a serious expression. This detailed depiction, created by the artist himself, serves as a significant record of his appearance and artistic presence towards the end of his career, showcasing his characteristic attention to realism and individual character.