Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Eugène Carrière. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A bald man with a short beard fills the frame, his face worked in warm browns and beiges, the curve of a collar just visible below. Eugène Carrière kept the background dark and plain in this 1897 self-portrait, blending light and shadow with smooth strokes for a quiet, glowing warmth across the skin.
Technique & Style
The relatively small dimensions place the composition in the tradition of introspective, closely observed self-portraiture rather than monumental display.
Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 41.3 by 32.7 centimeters, a modest, vertically oriented support suited to the intimate scale of a self-portrait. The medium is consistent with Carrière's broader practice of working in oil, and the canvas ground provides the standard support for late nineteenth-century easel painting. The relatively small dimensions place the composition in the tradition of introspective, closely observed self-portraiture rather than monumental display.
History & Provenance
Eugène Carrière created this oil-on-canvas self-portrait in 1897. The work depicts the artist himself and measures 41.3 centimeters in height by 32.7 centimeters in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a portrait genre piece.
No specific details regarding the commissioning process or previous owners prior to the museum's acquisition are provided in the available records.
Overview
Eugène Carrière's Self-Portrait, painted in oil in 1897, offers an intimate depiction of the artist. This painting, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, serves as a direct visual record of Carrière's appearance and artistic approach during the late 19th century. It exemplifies his characteristic style through its focused subject matter and distinctive use of color and light.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a close-up view of the artist, emphasizing his thoughtful expression. With a bald head and a short beard, Carrière's face is the sole focus, framed by a simple collar. This direct and unadorned self-representation invites contemplation, reflecting an introspective mood. The absence of distracting elements ensures the viewer's attention remains entirely on the artist's pensive gaze.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Anatole Carrière was a French Symbolist artist of the fin-de-siècle period.
