Artwork
Self Portrait
Self Portrait is an oil painting by the Realist artist Ferdinand de Braekeleer the Elder. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1854, this oil painting presents the artist Ferdinand de Braekeleer the Elder at his easel. Executed in a realist manner, the work captures the painter in the act of composing a canvas, his serious expression illuminated against a dark backdrop. The composition is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows de Braekeleer seated, coat dark, cravat neatly tied, brush poised over a palette smeared with paint. A partially completed sketch behind him hints at an ongoing narrative, while the red cushion on the floor adds a subtle accent. The piece functions as both a self‑representation and a study of the artist’s working environment.
Technique & Style
Rendered with thick, tactile brushwork on the palette, the painting employs a restrained palette dominated by deep shadows, allowing the facial features to emerge with clarity. The handling of light and dark follows chiaroscuro principles, giving volume to the figure and emphasizing the materiality of the paint itself, hallmarks of mid‑nineteenth‑century Realism.
History & Provenance
Ferdinand de Braekeleer the Elder, known for genre scenes and cityscapes, produced this self‑portrait toward the end of his career. The work entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains on display, forming part of the museum’s representation of Belgian realist painting.
Context
The mid‑1800s saw Flemish artists engaging with Realist ideals, focusing on everyday subjects and truthful representation. De Braekeleer’s self‑portrait aligns with this trend, offering insight into the artist’s practice and the broader shift away from idealized portraiture toward a more direct, observational approach.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand de Braekeleer the Elder
Ferdinand de Braekeleer (12 February 1792 – 16 May 1883), sometimes spelled as Ferdinand de Braeckeleer, was a Flemish painter and printmaker.
Interior of an Inn, with Figures in Seventeenth-Century Costume
Interior of an Inn, with Figures in Seventeenth-Century Costume
De zangers
The Citadel of Antwerp shortly after the Siege of 19 November-23 December 1832, and the Surrender of the Dutch Garisson to the French
Resting Hunter
The Village School
The Antwerp Castle in 1831
The Citadel of Antwerp shortly after the Siege of 19 November-23 December 1832, and the Surrender of the Dutch Garisson to the French
