Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by Ernst Zeuthen. It dates from 1927 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Ernst Zeuthen’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1927, is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery (Statens Museum for Kunst). The work presents the artist himself, rendered with a stark, confrontational presence.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays a bald, solemn‑looking Zeuthen dressed in a dark sweater with a white collar. His hands rest upon a coarse, textured plane, suggesting a tactile engagement with the material world and perhaps a contemplation of his own creative process.
Technique & Style
Zeuthen employs a heavy impasto application, building thick, uneven brushstrokes that lend the surface a sketch‑like vigor. Dark, saturated hues dominate, creating pronounced chiaroscuro around the face and hands, while lighter patches break the otherwise somber background.
History & Provenance
Created in the interwar period, the portrait entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings, where it remains on display. The artist’s faint signature in the lower corner merges with the textured surface, reflecting a modest approach to authorship.
Artist & collection
