Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Realist artist Henryk Rodakowski. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1849, this oil painting is a self-portrait by the Polish artist Henryk Rodakowski. Executed in a modest format, the work shows the artist seated before a plain, muted green backdrop. The composition centers on his face and upper torso, presenting a straightforward, introspective image that now belongs to the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Rodakowski himself, a man with dark, curly hair and a neatly trimmed beard, dressed in a black jacket over a white shirt. His direct gaze meets the viewer, and his serious expression, accentuated by defined cheekbones and a pronounced nose, conveys a sense of quiet contemplation rather than overt dramatization.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting employs a restrained palette and subtle modeling of light, hinting at chiaroscuro influences without dramatic contrast. The smooth handling of the flesh tones and the careful rendering of fabric textures demonstrate the artist’s skill in achieving a realistic yet understated presence.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the self-portrait entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s effort to represent 19th‑century Polish painters and to preserve Rodakowski’s personal visual legacy within the national collection.
Artist & collection
Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier, Duke of Malakoff, Marshal of France
Self-Portrait at the Easel
Portrait of Maksymilian Rodakowski, artist’s brother
Portrait of artist's aunt, sketch
Portrait of Babetta Singer, artist’s aunt
Portrait of Paweł Rodakowski, artist’s father
Sketches of a mummy and hands – Studies for “Allegory of Science”
Portrait of a Man
