Artwork
Selbstbildnis an der Staffelei (Self-Portrait with Easel)
Selbstbildnis an der Staffelei (Self-Portrait with Easel) is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1918, the work is a drypoint print executed in black on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1918, the work is a drypoint print executed in black on laid paper. It presents the artist at his easel, capturing a moment of artistic practice. The image is signed by the creator in the lower corner, and the paper’s irregular edge hints at a spontaneous, unrefined approach to its production.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a solitary figure, presumably the artist, leaning against a tall easel while holding a small object in one hand. The simplified facial features and gestural pose emphasize the act of painting itself, reflecting an ongoing preoccupation with self‑portraiture and the relationship between creator and canvas.
Technique & Style
Executed as a drypoint, the print relies on incised lines that appear loose, scratchy, and textured, giving the surface a rough immediacy. The black ink on the laid paper creates stark contrast, while the uneven, quick strokes convey a sense of a single, unmediated gesture rather than a polished finish.
History & Provenance
Lovis Corinth, a German painter who merged impressionist and expressionist tendencies, produced this piece after a 1911 stroke that prompted a shift toward more vigorous, expressive handling. The print forms part of his later output, documenting his continued interest in self‑representation during the final years of his career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lovis Corinth was a German artist and writer whose mature work as a painter and printmaker realized a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism.
