Autoportrait
1898
Ernst Würtenberger stares out with a piercing gaze in this 1898 self-portrait, sporting a thick beard and a dashing green bow tie that pops against his dark suit. The background is a whirlwind of loose, energetic brushstrokes, depicting a tree trunk and reddish autumn leaves against a turbulent sky. This approach suggests the influence of Impressionism, as if he painted *en plein air* to capture the fleeting light. The raw texture of the paint makes the portrait feel immediate and alive, like a candid snapshot from the turn of the century.
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