Artwork
Autoportret
Autoportret is a print by Magdalena Rădulescu. It dates from 1944 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
Autoportret, executed around 1944 by Romanian artist Magdalena Rădulescu, presents a solitary female figure rendered in oil on canvas. The composition is centered, with the sitter gazing directly at the viewer, her expression composed and unadorned.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a woman with dark, wavy hair, dressed in a light‑colored, high‑collared blouse. Her calm demeanor and straightforward gaze suggest a focus on interior presence rather than narrative context, inviting contemplation of identity and self‑representation.
Technique & Style
Rădulescu employs loose brushwork and a muted palette, allowing soft transitions between light and shadow to model the face. The subtle chiaroscuro creates depth without dramatic contrast, while the plain background isolates the figure, emphasizing form over setting.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1944, the work belongs to the later period of Rădulescu’s career, a time marked by personal introspection amid wartime conditions in Eastern Europe. Its ownership record remains limited to private collections, with no known exhibition history documented to date.
Artist & collection
Artist
Magdalena Rădulescu was a Romanian modernist painter and illustrator. She was known for her symbolist and expressionist paintings, inspired by Romanian traditions and folklore. Rădulescu lived most of her life in…
