Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an unspecified painting by the Symbolist artist Jens Sørensen. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
History & Provenance
The work is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it is inventoried as Selvportræt (inventory number not specified in sources).
Self-Portrait is a 1920 painting by Jens Sørensen depicting the artist himself. The work is currently held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been since its creation.
The painting was executed in 1920, as recorded in its inception metadata, and measures 39 cm in height by 33 cm in width. It remains part of the museum's permanent holdings without documented changes in ownership.
No record of commission or external creation history beyond its authorship by Sørensen is available in the provided sources.
The work is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it is inventoried as Selvportræt (inventory number not specified in sources).
It was included in the exhibition Portrætter fra SMK held at the same museum in 2017, as documented in the institution’s collection records.
Overview
Jens Sørensen’s Self‑Portrait, executed in 1920, is a monochrome oil painting that resides in the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work presents the artist’s own likeness, focusing on his face and shoulders. A serious expression, short hair and pronounced eyebrows dominate the composition, while the limited palette emphasizes tonal contrast over colour.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait functions as a direct visual statement from the artist, offering a candid glimpse of his demeanor at the time. The solemn gaze and unembellished rendering suggest a contemplative self‑examination, aligning with early‑twentieth‑century tendencies toward personal introspection in portraiture.
Technique & Style
Rendered in black and white, the painting exhibits uneven brushwork that leaves a subtly textured surface, particularly across the facial plane. The application appears swift, producing areas of rough, impasto‑like paint that contrast with smoother sections, thereby enhancing the tactile quality of the work despite its limited chromatic range.
Context
The early 1920s marked a period of experimentation for many Scandinavian artists, who were exploring new approaches to realism and abstraction. Sørensen’s choice of a stark, monochrome palette and expressive brushwork reflects contemporary dialogues about the role of the artist’s hand and the psychological depth achievable through simplified visual means.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
