Artwork

Self-portrait

Self-portrait, by Alexander Magnus Malmqvist, unspecified
Self-portrait, by Alexander Magnus Malmqvist, unspecified

Self-portrait is an unspecified painting by Alexander Magnus Malmqvist. It is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting is a self‑portrait executed by the Swedish artist Alexander Magnus Malmqvist. The work presents the artist himself, rendered with a restrained palette and a focus on his facial expression and attire. It is part of the collection of Sweden’s Nationalmuseum, where it is displayed among other works from the same period.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a middle‑aged man with dark, tightly curled hair, captured in a serious, introspective pose. His gaze is directed slightly away from the viewer, suggesting contemplation or inner thought. The composition emphasizes his thoughtful demeanor rather than any narrative beyond the personal study.

Technique & Style

Malmqvist employs a muted brown background that recedes, allowing the figure’s blue jacket with gold trim and crisp white high‑collared shirt to stand out. The brushwork is smooth and controlled, highlighting the texture of the fabric and the subtle modeling of the face, typical of late‑19th‑century academic portraiture.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Malmqvist as a personal record of his own likeness and later entered the Nationalmuseum’s holdings. The museum acquired the work as part of its effort to represent Swedish artists of the era, though the exact date of acquisition is not specified in the available records.

Artist & collection

Artist

Alexander Magnus Malmqvist

Alexander Magnus Malmqvist painted a single Self-portrait. No movement or contemporaries are recorded. The painting shows the artist holding a brush in one hand and a palette in the other, the background a plain, pale…

Nationalmuseum

Museum

Nationalmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Nationalmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.