Who painted Portrait of a Boy?

Portrait of a Boy was painted by Unknown in 1920.

Where can I see Portrait of a Boy?

Portrait of a Boy is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Portrait of a Boy

Unknown , 1920

Portrait of a Boy is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of a Boy, executed in 1920 by the artist catalogued as 33325_person, is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a young male figure rendered in a dark blue garment with a white collar, positioned in profile. A muted, uneven backdrop recedes toward a light‑filled window, while splashes of green foliage and a red flower provide brief chromatic accents.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a boy whose round face and pale complexion convey a calm, slightly amused expression. His sideways stance and gentle smile suggest a moment of quiet contemplation or modest confidence, while the surrounding darkness and the faint illumination from the window may hint at themes of innocence emerging into awareness.

Technique & Style

This textural approach contrasts the smoothness of the boy’s facial features with the roughness of the background, emphasizing the figure’s presence.

The painting employs a pronounced impasto technique, with thick, uneven brushstrokes that create a tactile surface. This textural approach contrasts the smoothness of the boy’s facial features with the roughness of the background, emphasizing the figure’s presence. The limited palette of deep blues and muted tones is punctuated by vivid green leaves and a solitary red blossom, adding visual interest.

History & Provenance

Created in the early twentieth century, the work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its completion, though exact acquisition details remain undocumented. Its presence in the museum situates the piece within a broader collection of ethnographic and cultural portraiture, reflecting the institution’s interest in diverse visual representations from the period.