Self-Portrait with Eye-shade
1813
Meet Anton Graff, one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time, caught here in his final self-portrait painted just before his death in 1813. He sports a practical green eye-shade to block out the glare while he works, holding his trusty brush and palette with a knowing, almost mischievous gaze. Behind him, a faint, ghostly sketch of a face lingers on the canvas, hinting at the countless famous figures he captured during his career. It’s a wonderfully candid look at an aging master who spent his life looking closely at others, now turning that sharp eye right back at us.
- Technique
- oil painting