Self-portrait

Perle employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with isolated highlights to model the facial planes. The darkness of the backdrop amplifies the contrast, while a small, almost accidental‑looking patch of light on the cheek and the bright eyes create a focal point. A faint, irregular mark across the nose hints at a possible over‑painting or deliberate textural effect.

Created in the late nineteenth century, the painting entered the National Museum’s holdings in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its acquisition date is not recorded in the available sources, but the work has been part of the museum’s representation of Polish portraiture from the period.