Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist David Hoyer. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
David Hoyer’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1697, is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. The work presents the artist in a half‑length format, set against a dark, non‑descriptive background that isolates the figure and draws the eye to his face and hands.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Hoyer himself, is shown with dark hair, a dark jacket over a white shirt, and a neutral expression. He holds a brush in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other, indicating his professional identity and suggesting a moment of contemplation or preparation within his studio.
Technique & Style
The painting employs a strong contrast between illuminated areas and deep shadows, a chiaroscuro effect that models the figure’s form and creates a three‑dimensional presence. The brushwork is restrained, with smooth rendering of the facial features and more gestural handling of the clothing, typical of late‑seventeenth‑century portraiture.
History & Provenance
Created in the final decade of the 17th century, the portrait entered the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings at an unspecified date and has remained in the museum’s collection since. Its provenance is limited to the museum’s records, which list it as a work by David Hoyer without further documented ownership changes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Portrait of an Artist
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Self-portrait
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