Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an ink print by Max Liebermann. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1906, this self‑portrait by Max Liebermann is an etching executed on laid paper. The image presents the artist seated, arms crossed, his bald head and moustache clearly rendered. The composition is concise, focusing on the figure without background detail, and the work measures within the typical size range for Liebermann’s print output of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Liebermann himself, captured in a straightforward, almost informal pose. By depicting himself with crossed arms and a relaxed posture, the image conveys a sense of self‑assurance and introspection, aligning with the personal nature of many late‑career self‑portraits where the artist reflects on his identity and professional standing.
Technique & Style
The marks are rapid and unrefined, lacking smooth gradations; instead, they consist of sharp, sketch‑like strokes that emphasize immediacy over polish.
Liebermann employed traditional intaglio etching, incising lines into a copper plate before printing onto laid paper. The marks are rapid and unrefined, lacking smooth gradations; instead, they consist of sharp, sketch‑like strokes that emphasize immediacy over polish. This approach mirrors the broader Impressionist tendency toward spontaneous execution and a focus on overall impression rather than meticulous detail.
History & Provenance
A prominent figure in German Impressionism, Liebermann studied in Weimar, Paris, and the Netherlands before establishing his career in Berlin in 1884. The 1906 etching belongs to the later phase of his printmaking, a period when he explored portraiture more intensively. The work has remained within museum collections that specialize in early 20th‑century German art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Liebermann (20 July 1847 – 8 February 1935) was a German painter and printmaker, and one of the leading proponents of Impressionism in Germany and continental Europe.
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