Artwork
Selbstbildnis im Strohhut (Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat)
Selbstbildnis im Strohhut (Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat) is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Selbstbildnis im Strohhut (Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat) is a 1913 drypoint print by Lovis Corinth, a German artist known for bridging impressionism and expressionism. The work is a self-portrait, executed in black drypoint on textured paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts Corinth wearing a straw hat, with his gaze directed off to the side. The subject's facial features, aside from a discernible mustache and jacket collar, are rendered in loose, expressive lines, conveying a sense of informality.
Technique & Style
The drypoint technique, involving direct scratching into a metal plate, is evident in the work's bold, expressive lines. Corinth's post-stroke style (after 1911) is characterized by looser forms, which are reflected in the quick, sketchy execution of this self-portrait.
History & Provenance
Created in 1913, following Corinth's 1911 stroke, this self-portrait exemplifies the stylistic shift towards greater expressiveness in his later work. The artist's handwriting signatures mark the bottom corners of the print.
Context
Corinth's artistic development was influenced by his studies in Paris and Munich, and his leadership in the Berlin Secession. This self-portrait, with its blend of impressionist and expressionist elements, sits within the broader context of early 20th-century European modernism.
Legacy
As part of Corinth's oeuvre, Selbstbildnis im Strohhut contributes to the artist's reputation for innovative printmaking and his significant role in the transition from impressionism to expressionism in German art.
Own this work as a print
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.
Selbstbildnis im Strohhut (Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat)
Selbstbildnis im Strohhut, als Brustbild (Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat, Bust Length)
Selbstbildnis (Self-Portrait)
Selbstbildnis im Pelz (Self-Portrait in a Fur Coat)
Selbstbildnis (Self-Portrait)
Selbstbildnis (Self-Portrait)
Selbstbildnis an der Staffelei (Self-Portrait with Easel)
Zwei Männliche Studienköpfe—Selbstbildnisse (Sketch of Two Male Heads—Self-Portraits)