Who painted Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait was painted by Wilhelm Bendz in 1825.

Where can I see Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait is associated with Biedermeier.

Self-Portrait by Wilhelm Bendz (1825) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The subject matter is strictly the artist himself, with no additional figures or complex narrative elements indicated in the available records.

The work depicts the artist Wilhelm Bendz, presenting himself as the sole main subject of the composition. As a self-portrait, the painting functions as a direct visual representation of the creator, capturing his likeness in oil paint. The subject matter is strictly the artist himself, with no additional figures or complex narrative elements indicated in the available records.

This focus establishes the piece as a straightforward documentation of the painter's appearance during the period of its creation in 1825.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1825, this self-portrait by Wilhelm Bendz is an oil painting on canvas. The work presents a formal depiction of the artist himself, adhering to the conventions of the portrait genre. The substantial dimensions of the support measure 195 cm in height and 165 cm in width, indicating a large-scale composition.

Currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, the piece utilizes traditional oil paints to render the subject. The classification as a painting underscores its material construction, though specific details regarding surface condition, brushwork handling, or distinct stylistic maneuvers beyond its genre definition are not elaborated upon in the available records.

History & Provenance

The work entered the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen by 1825, where it has remained in the national collection since that date.

It is recorded as a self-portrait executed in oil on canvas, measuring 195 cm in height and 165 cm in width.

Wilhelm Bendz's 1825 oil painting, Self-Portrait, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work depicts the artist himself and measures 195 cm in height by 165 cm in width. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for this piece, nor do they record any exhibition history.

Overview

Created in 1825, this oil self‑portrait presents the Danish artist Wilhelm Bendz at work in a modest interior. The composition centers the painter seated before an easel, his hat clasped in hand, while a loose white shirt with red edging catches the limited light. The work belongs to the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery of Art, Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artist & collection

Artist

Wilhelm Bendz

Wilhelm Ferdinand Bendz (20 March 1804 – 14 November 1832) was a Danish painter mainly known for genre works and portraits which often portray his artist colleagues and their daily lives.