Portrait of the painter Anton Melbye
1852
Meet Anton Melbye, a 19th-century Danish marine painter who clearly wasn't afraid to show off his craft. Ditlev Blunck captured him here in 1852, sitting confidently with arms crossed right next to an easel displaying a stormy seascape. The dramatic lighting and intense gaze are classic hallmarks of the Romantic movement, making the artist look as turbulent and passionate as the ocean waves he painted. It's a brilliant bit of visual self-promotion, reminding viewers exactly what kind of masterpieces he created.