Artwork
Selbstbildnis

Selbstbildnis is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Franz Schrotzberg. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
This painting shows a man with a thick gray beard and dark hair, dressed in a black coat with a white collar.
This painting shows a man with a thick gray beard and dark hair, dressed in a black coat with a white collar. His face is serious, with a direct gaze that feels almost intense. The background is plain and dark, making his features stand out.
The signature in the corner says "Schrotzberg" and "Wien 1878," which tells us the artist and year. The lighting highlights his face sharply, creating strong contrasts.
Check out the Kunsthistorisches Museum to see this painting in person.
Subject & Meaning
The self portrait shows Franz Schrotzberg in formal attire standing before a muted backdrop that emphasizes his contemplative expression. Symbolically the composition underscores the artist’s introspection and the 19th century preoccupation with individual identity. Painted in oil on canvas the work measures 76 cm by 61 cm and is housed in the Belvedere Kunsthistorisches Museum collection.
Technique & Style
The work titled Selbstbildnis is an oil painting created on canvas. Measuring 76 cm in height and 61 cm in width, it depicts Franz Schrotzberg and was executed in 1878. The piece belongs to the portrait genre and is classified as a self-portrait.
It is executed in oil paint, reflecting a conventional approach to formal rendering within the medium of painting.
History & Provenance
The painting is held at the Belvedere in Vienna. According to the available records, the work is also associated with the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection.
No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the sources provided, and no exhibition history is recorded.
Overview
Franz Schrotzberg’s self‑portrait, executed in oil on canvas, presents the artist in a restrained pose. He is shown with a full gray beard, dark hair, and a black coat trimmed with a white collar. The composition is set against a uniform dark backdrop, which isolates the figure and emphasizes the intensity of his direct gaze.
Context
Created in the late nineteenth century, the portrait aligns with the Viennese tradition of academic portraiture, where artists often depicted themselves with a dignified bearing. Schrotzberg, active in the Austrian capital, contributed to the city’s artistic milieu, and this self‑portrait reflects the era’s emphasis on individual identity within the academic art establishment.
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