Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by Ludvig Karsten. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Ludvig Karsten’s *Self‑Portrait* (1920) is an oil painting that presents the artist in a long coat, hat, and cane, cradling a small dog. The work belongs to the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst and exemplifies Karsten’s engagement with early‑20th‑century European modernism.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts Karsten himself, rendered as a solitary figure whose blurred facial features suggest a fleeting self‑observation rather than a detailed likeness. The inclusion of a dog and the casual stance convey a personal, perhaps introspective, narrative, inviting viewers to consider the artist’s identity within a broader social context.
Technique & Style
Karsten employs loose, rapid brushwork and a vibrant palette of yellows and greens that dissolve into the background. Thick applications of paint create impasto textures in select areas, adding physical depth. The overall effect is a lively, slightly chaotic surface that aligns with neo‑impressionist concerns for color vibration and expressive gesture.
History & Provenance
Created in the post‑World War I period, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s early‑20th‑century focus on Scandinavian modernism and the artist’s growing reputation within that milieu.
Context
Karsten’s work sits at the intersection of Norwegian expressionism and the broader currents of French modern painting. Influences from Edvard Munch’s emotional intensity, Henri Matisse’s coloristic daring, and contemporary French trends inform the portrait’s composition, situating it within a transnational dialogue of avant‑garde experimentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ludvig Karsten (8 May 1876 – 19 October 1926) was a Norwegian painter. He was a neo-impressionist influenced by Edvard Munch, Henri Matisse and contemporary French painting. He first participated at the Autumn…
