Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Social Realist artist John Christensen. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Through this likeness, Christensen presents himself to viewers, inviting consideration of his self-perception at the time of its creation in 1936.
Self-Portrait depicts John Christensen, the artist himself, rendered in oil paint on cardboard. As a self-portrait, the work serves as a direct representation of the artist’s appearance and identity, a common genre for exploring self-image. The painting’s modest dimensions and medium emphasize an intimate, personal portrayal rather than a formal commission.
Through this likeness, Christensen presents himself to viewers, inviting consideration of his self-perception at the time of its creation in 1936.
Technique & Style
John Christensen’s Self-Portrait (1936) is an oil painting on cardboard support, measuring 62 cm in height and 47 cm in width. The work is classified as a self‑portrait portrait and belongs to the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artist employed oil paint applied directly to the cardboard ground, a technique that yields a modestly textured surface typical of mid‑twentieth‑century panel works. No specific condition issues are recorded in the sources.
History & Provenance
Self-Portrait was created by John Christensen in 1936, executed in oil paint on cardboard. The work entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, the Danish national gallery, where it is held today. No intermediate ownership history, commission details, or earlier provenance is documented in the available sources.
The painting measures 62 cm in height by 47 cm in width and depicts the artist himself. Beyond its 1936 inception and its current institutional home, no additional creation circumstances or chain of custody are recorded.
The 1936 self-portrait by John Christensen is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Executed in oil paint on cardboard, the work measures 62 cm in height and 47 cm in width. The provided sources confirm the painting's location and physical attributes but do not contain specific inventory numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Overview
John Christensen’s 1936 oil self‑portrait presents the artist seated before a muted backdrop of greens, blues and browns. He looks straight ahead with a neutral expression, his short brown hair framing a face that conveys quiet contemplation. In his left hand he holds a palette and brushes, while a pipe rests in his right, suggesting both his profession and personal habit.
Context
The portrait emerges during a period when many European artists explored self‑portraiture as a means of asserting individual identity amid rapid social change. Christensen’s approach aligns with a broader trend of modest, realistic self‑depictions, contrasting with the more avant‑garde experiments occurring elsewhere in the 1930s.
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