Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Nicolaas van der Waay. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
In 1903 the Dutch artist Nicolaas van der Waay produced a canvas self‑portrait that now belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The work presents the artist in a restrained pose, his face illuminated against a dark, unadorned backdrop, emphasizing the individual’s features without extraneous detail.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures van der Waay himself, a figure known for decorative and illustrative commissions. His serious expression and slightly disheveled hair convey a contemplative mood, suggesting an introspective look at his own identity amid a career that spanned stamps, coins, and allegorical designs.
Technique & Style
Executed in a post‑impressionist manner, the painting employs a limited palette of muted tones. Strong chiaroscuro under the nose and jaw creates a sense of volume, while the plain background isolates the sitter, allowing the brushwork and subtle tonal shifts to define form rather than decorative flourish.
History & Provenance
Van der Waay, noted for his contributions to the Golden Coach and a series of orphan‑girl studies, painted this self‑portrait toward the end of his career. After remaining in private hands, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s representation of early‑20th‑century Dutch art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaas van der Waay (1855–1936) was a Dutch decorative artist, watercolorist and lithographer.
