Who painted Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)?

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) was painted by Walter Gramatté in 1922.

Where can I see Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)?

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) is held by National Gallery of Art.

Can I buy a print of Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)?

Museum-quality prints of Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)

Walter Gramatté , 1922

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) is an ink print by Walter Gramatté. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:signed by artist, lower right under platemark, in graphite: Walter Gramatté / 22
Markings: Marked:stamp, center verso, in black ink: R

About this work

Overview

Walter Gramatté’s self‑portrait, titled Gloomy Face, Self‑portrait, was produced in 1922 as a print that combines etching, engraving and dry‑point techniques. The image presents the artist’s own visage, rendered with a stark, somber expression that aligns with the introspective tone of his early‑1920s output.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a head shrouded by a low‑set cap that conceals the eyes, while a serious, almost mournful mouth and the hint of a jacket collar suggest a withdrawn, contemplative mood. Such visual choices echo Gramatté’s recurring preoccupations with personal hardship, wartime trauma and the fragile state of health that informed much of his art.

Technique & Style

Gramatté employed a metal plate on which he incised lines with a sharp needle, a process known as dry‑point, alongside traditional etching and engraving.

Gramatté employed a metal plate on which he incised lines with a sharp needle, a process known as dry‑point, alongside traditional etching and engraving. The resulting marks are uneven and vigorous, producing deep, velvety blacks against a lighter background. This tactile, expressive line work is characteristic of the German Expressionist aesthetic, emphasizing emotional intensity over precise realism.

History & Provenance

Created during a period when Gramatté was actively exploring magic realism and a mystical approach to nature, the print reflects his personal circumstances in the early 1920s. While specific ownership details are scarce, the piece remains a representative example of his printmaking practice and is documented in collections that focus on German Expressionist works.