Artwork
Self Portrait
Self Portrait is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Francis Matte. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1900, this oil painting presents the artist Francis Matte in a self‑portrait. The work is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection. Matte is shown holding a palette and brushes, dressed in a white shirt, black bow tie and red vest, against a backdrop that includes a painted landscape with a boat behind a dark curtain.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s direct gaze engages the viewer, emphasizing the artist’s role and identity. By including his tools and a miniature landscape within the composition, Matte underscores the act of creation, suggesting a dialogue between the painter and his own work.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the portrait displays a careful handling of light on the fabrics and a subtle modeling of the face. The background landscape is rendered with a smoother, glazed finish, contrasting with the more textured treatment of the figure’s clothing and accessories.
History & Provenance
Francis Matte completed the piece at the turn of the twentieth century. It entered the Detroit Institute of Arts’ holdings in the early twentieth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s American art holdings.
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