Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an unspecified painting by the German Romanticist artist Vilhelm Kyhn. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the artist himself as its sole figure, presenting a direct self-representation. It functions as a conventional self-portrait that emphasizes the artist's own presence and identity within the composition. The work is categorized as both a portrait and a self-portrait, reflecting the subject's focus on the creator.
History & Provenance
Vilhelm Kyhn's 1838 painting, Self-Portrait, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Vilhelm Kyhn created this self-portrait in 1838. The work depicts the artist himself and is classified as a portrait painting. It currently resides in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is held as part of their holdings. The painting measures 12.6 cm in both height and width.
Vilhelm Kyhn's 1838 painting, Self-Portrait, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work is cataloged within the museum's holdings as a portrait depicting the artist himself. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records, nor is there information regarding a history of public exhibitions for this piece.
The artwork measures 12.6 cm in both height and width. While the creation date is established as January 1, 1838, the sources do not detail the work's provenance prior to its current location or list any past display history.
Overview
Vilhelm Kyhn’s self‑portrait, executed in 1838, presents a close‑up view of the young artist. He is shown with light brown hair, a dark coat over a white shirt, and a bow tie, set against a plain, dark background that isolates his face. The composition emphasizes his serious expression, with steady eyes and a subtly tense mouth, offering a direct visual record of Kyhn at the start of his career.
Technique & Style
Kyhn employs a relatively loose handling of brushwork, especially in the rendering of hair and skin, where strokes appear sketch‑like and suggestive rather than fully detailed. The limited palette and stark contrast between the illuminated face and the dark backdrop hint at chiaroscuro influences, while the overall approach reflects the German Romantic emphasis on mood over strict realism.
Context
Kyhn belonged to the generation that followed Denmark’s Golden Age, a period marked by a shift toward Romantic sensibilities in Northern Europe. While primarily known for landscapes, this portrait reveals his engagement with contemporary German Romantic trends, situating him within a broader artistic dialogue that balanced national traditions with emerging European currents.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Vilhelm Carl Kyhn (March 30, 1819 – May 11, 1903) was a Danish landscape painter who belonged to the generation of national romantic painters immediately after the Danish Golden Age and before the Modern Breakthrough.
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