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Self-Portrait with Hat and Coat by Lovis Corinth

Lovis Corinth · 1915-01-01

Lovis Corinth's "Self-Portrait with Hat and Coat" from 1915, held at The Cleveland Museum of Art, offers a profound glimpse into the artist's psyche during a tumultuous year. Corinth, a prominent German artist, painted this at the age of 57, just as the First World War began.

His direct and unflinching gaze draws you in, yet a closer look at the coat reveals a more turbulent emotional landscape. The bold, almost chaotic brushstrokes and unexpected flashes of color suggest an inner turmoil beneath a composed exterior.

Corinth's mature work blended Impressionism and Expressionism, and this portrait is a powerful example of that synthesis. It captures not just a likeness, but the mood of a man confronting a rapidly changing and darkening world. What do you see in his expression?

Details

He was 57 years old, a well-known German artist.
He was 57 years old, a well-known German artist.
His coat, however, is a storm of brushstrokes.
His coat, however, is a storm of brushstrokes.
The hat casts a shadow, adding to the dramatic and somewhat somber mood.
The hat casts a shadow, adding to the dramatic and somewhat somber mood.
Transcript

This man painted himself in 1915. He was 57 years old, a well-known German artist. Look closely at his eyes: a direct, unflinching gaze. His coat, however, is a storm of brushstrokes. Even a flash of red and blue appears in the fabric. This was the first year of the Great War. The painting captures his mood in a darkening world.