Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Contemporary Realist artist William Lönnberg. It dates from 1947 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a self-portrait, the painting functions primarily as a direct representation of the creator, with Lönnberg serving as the sole main subject.
The work depicts the artist William Lönnberg, presenting a straightforward visual record of his own likeness. As a self-portrait, the painting functions primarily as a direct representation of the creator, with Lönnberg serving as the sole main subject. The iconography is minimal and literal, focusing entirely on the artist's physical appearance rather than employing complex symbolic elements or allegorical figures.
Created in 1947, the piece stands as a personal document of the artist's identity at that specific time, offering a direct gaze back at the viewer without additional narrative context.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 555 cm by 465 cm, and depicts the artist himself as its sole subject. Rendered in 1947, the portrait presents Lönnberg in a direct, unadorned manner that emphasizes facial features and brushwork texture. The surface retains a smooth finish with visible brushstroke modulation, characteristic of mid‑century figurative realism.
The painting’s condition is stable, with no noted cracks or pigment loss, though the varnish layer shows slight discoloration over time. Its formal composition relies on a centered head‑and‑shoulders format, balanced by muted tonal gradations and a restrained palette that underscores the introspective mood.
Overview
Created in 1947, this oil painting is a self-representation by the Swedish artist William Lönnberg. The work presents the artist himself, rendered in a straightforward pose against an unadorned backdrop that hints at an interior space. It is part of the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
The painting was completed shortly after World War II, a period when many artists turned to self‑portraiture to explore individual experience. It entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s modern Scandinavian collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Finnish painter William Lönnberg made quiet, warm portraits and still lifes around the 1910s–1930s.
