Artwork

Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait, by Alphonse Legros, gold, 1895
Self-Portrait, by Alphonse Legros, gold, 1895

Self-Portrait is a gold drawing by the Impressionist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing is a self-portrait created by Alphonse Legros around 1895 using the goldpoint technique on prepared paper.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a meticulous approach, using numerous short lines that vary in density to achieve a range of tonal values, resulting in a detailed, gray-toned representation.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a bearded man with curly hair, exemplifying Legros's focus on figural representation and his experimentation with technique.

History & Provenance

Legros, a French-born artist who became a British citizen, was active in London from 1863 and was known for his work in various mediums, including painting, etching, sculpture, and medal design.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Alphonse Legros

Artist

Alphonse Legros

Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.