Who painted Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)?

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) was painted by Walter Gramatté in 1922.

Where can I see Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)?

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) is held by National Gallery of Art.

Artwork

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt)

Walter Gramatté , 1922

Gloomy Face, Self-portrait (Dunkles Gesicht, Selbstporträt) is an ink print by Walter Gramatté. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Walter Gramatté’s self‑portrait, titled *Gloomy Face, Self‑portrait*, was produced in 1922 as a print that combines etching, engraving and dry‑point techniques. The image presents the artist’s own visage, rendered with a stark, somber expression that aligns with the introspective tone of his early‑1920s output.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a head shrouded by a low‑set cap that conceals the eyes, while a serious, almost mournful mouth and the hint of a jacket collar suggest a withdrawn, contemplative mood. Such visual choices echo Gramatté’s recurring preoccupations with personal hardship, wartime trauma and the fragile state of health that informed much of his art.

Technique & Style

Gramatté employed a metal plate on which he incised lines with a sharp needle, a process known as dry‑point, alongside traditional etching and engraving.

Gramatté employed a metal plate on which he incised lines with a sharp needle, a process known as dry‑point, alongside traditional etching and engraving. The resulting marks are uneven and vigorous, producing deep, velvety blacks against a lighter background. This tactile, expressive line work is characteristic of the German Expressionist aesthetic, emphasizing emotional intensity over precise realism.

History & Provenance

Created during a period when Gramatté was actively exploring magic realism and a mystical approach to nature, the print reflects his personal circumstances in the early 1920s. While specific ownership details are scarce, the piece remains a representative example of his printmaking practice and is documented in collections that focus on German Expressionist works.