Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist José Díaz Molina. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1900, this oil on canvas self‑portrait presents the artist José Díaz Molina at half‑length. The work resides in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is displayed among other nineteenth‑century Spanish paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is rendered with short, dark hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a composed, forward‑facing pose. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie, his neutral expression and steady gaze convey a contemplative self‑examination typical of artists who used portraiture to assert their professional identity.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting exhibits a layered, textured surface that enhances the modeling of flesh and fabric. The subdued palette of browns, blacks and muted blues, together with a dark, gradient background, aligns the work with traditional academic portraiture of the late nineteenth century, emphasizing realism over decorative flourish.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the canvas has remained within Spanish institutional holdings, ultimately entering the Prado’s permanent collection. Its presence there reflects the museum’s broader effort to document the oeuvre of lesser‑known Spanish painters from the turn of the century.
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