Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an ink print by the Baroque artist Wenceslaus Hollar. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This is a black-and-white portrait inside a fancy, swirly frame. The person has short, curly hair and a serious look, wearing a dark collar. Below the face, there’s a small shield with symbols and a crown.
The date “1647” is written above, and the artist was 40 when they made it. The lines are sharp and detailed, typical of the time.
Next, check out the technique: etching.
Overview
Wenceslaus Hollar’s self‑portrait is an etched print dated 1647, created when the artist was about forty years old. Executed in black and white, the image is set within an ornamental, swirling frame that emphasizes the formal presentation typical of 17th‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Hollar himself, shown with short, tightly curled hair and a solemn expression. He wears a dark, high‑collared garment, and a small heraldic shield bearing symbolic devices and a crown appears beneath his chin, suggesting personal or professional identity.
Technique & Style
Rendered through etching, the work displays the crisp, finely drawn lines for which Hollar was renowned. The meticulous cross‑hatching and precise contours convey texture and depth, illustrating the artist’s command of the medium and the prevailing aesthetic of detailed realism in printmaking.
History & Provenance
Hollar, a Czech‑born engraver who spent much of his career in England, produced this self‑portrait amid a prolific period of portrait and landscape work. The print reflects his established reputation for cityscapes and topographical studies, while also serving as a personal statement of his artistic identity.
Context
Created in the mid‑17th century, the portrait aligns with contemporary European practices of self‑representation among printmakers. The decorative frame and heraldic shield echo the baroque taste for elaborate ornamentation and the use of personal insignia to convey status.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
