Artwork

Autoportret în costum tirolez (în registrul inventar: Bătrân cu barbă mare)

Autoportret în costum tirolez (în registrul inventar: Bătrân cu barbă mare) is a print by Franz von Defregger. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Brukenthal National Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1885, this self‑portrait by Franz von Defregger—catalogued as “Bătrân cu barbă mare”—depicts the artist in a traditional Tyrolean costume. The composition centers on an elderly figure with a long white beard and mustache, set against a dark, almost woven backdrop that isolates his face and attire.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents the painter as an aged, bearded man, emphasizing the passage of time and personal identity. The fur‑lined coat and the small object held in his left hand suggest a connection to regional dress and perhaps a symbolic reference to his craft or status within Tyrolean culture.

Technique & Style

Defregger employs a pronounced impasto technique, applying thick, visible brushstrokes that render the fur and skin with a tactile, rough texture. This handling of paint creates a solid, three‑dimensional presence, while the muted, dark background enhances the contrast and draws attention to the figure’s features.

History & Provenance

The portrait was produced in the mid‑1880s, a period when Defregger was active in genre painting and portraiture. It is recorded in the museum’s inventory under the title “Bătrân cu barbă mare,” indicating its classification as a self‑portrait within the artist’s later oeuvre.