Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist William Adolphe Bouguereau. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
He’s wearing a dark coat and holding a bundle of brushes in one hand and a single brush in the other.
This black-and-white portrait shows an older man with a long white beard and mustache. He’s wearing a dark coat and holding a bundle of brushes in one hand and a single brush in the other. The background is plain, so all the focus is on his face and hands.
The artist signed the painting in the top left corner with the year 1895. Brushes like these were often used by painters to mix and apply oil paint.
Look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and shadow for dramatic effect.
Overview
This oil painting is a self-portrait by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, a prominent French academic painter.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts an older man, presumably the artist, with a long white beard and mustache, wearing a dark coat and holding painting brushes, conveying a sense of his profession.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro, evident in the contrast between light and shadow, draws attention to the subject's face and hands, creating a dramatic effect characteristic of Bouguereau's realistic style.
History & Provenance
The painting was signed by the artist in 1895, although it is dated to 1898. It is now part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French pronunciation: ; 30 November 1825 – 19 August 1905) was a French academic painter.
