Where can I see Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt)?

Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt) is held by National Gallery of Art.

Can I buy a print of Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt)?

Museum-quality prints of Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt)

Walter Gramatté , 1922

Bust of a Young Man, Self-portrait (Knabenkopf, Selbstporträt) is an ink print by Walter Gramatté. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1922, this print presents a solitary head rendered in a stark, stone‑like manner.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1922, this print presents a solitary head rendered in a stark, stone‑like manner. The image is dominated by a greenish‑gray tonal field, interrupted by two small red smudges on the cheeks where the artist applied pigment by fingertip. The composition focuses on the intense, angular features of the sitter, offering a compact yet striking visual statement.

Technique & Style

The artist’s line work is abrupt and jagged, suggesting the texture of a carved surface, while deep shadows enhance the three‑dimensional illusion.

The work combines traditional etching with hand‑engraving, then receives a final coloration applied directly with red ink. The artist’s line work is abrupt and jagged, suggesting the texture of a carved surface, while deep shadows enhance the three‑dimensional illusion. The manual addition of color creates a hybrid print that blurs the line between mechanical reproduction and painterly intervention.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait functions as a self‑representation, the sitter’s severe expression and rough modeling evoking an introspective, almost mystical engagement with the self. The harsh lines and stark contrasts convey a sense of inner tension, aligning with the artist’s broader interest in expressing psychological states through a stylized, almost magical realism approach.

History & Provenance

Produced by German expressionist Walter Gramatté during his post‑World War I period, the piece reflects his personal circumstances of illness and wartime experience. While specific ownership records are limited, the print remains a documented example of Gramatté’s printmaking activity in the early 1920s, illustrating his experimental use of mixed techniques.