Artwork
Self-Portrait Facing Left (Selbstbildnis nachlinks)
Self-Portrait Facing Left (Selbstbildnis nachlinks) is an ink print by Otto Mueller. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1920, this lithographic self‑portrait presents Otto Mueller looking toward his left. Rendered in stark black and white, the image features a solitary figure against a plain white ground, emphasizing the artist’s facial features and the compositional simplicity characteristic of early twentieth‑century German printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts Mueller himself, his dark hair and furrowed brow conveying a sober, introspective mood. The direct gaze and serious expression suggest a personal examination, aligning with the expressionist interest in revealing inner states through facial nuance rather than decorative detail.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece relies on bold, decisive lines and varied shading to model the face, creating depth within the limited tonal range. The contrast between dense contouring and the clean white background highlights the medium’s capacity for both precision and expressive texture.
History & Provenance
Mueller, a central figure in the Die Brücke movement, produced this print during a period when he was expanding his practice beyond painting into graphic arts. The lithograph reflects his ongoing engagement with printmaking as a means to disseminate expressionist aesthetics.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Otto Mueller (16 October 1874 – 24 September 1930) was a German painter and printmaker of the Die Brücke expressionist movement.
