Self-Portrait
1849 - 1852
Meet Ferdinand von Wright, looking quite dapper in his blue bow tie and waistcoat, holding the ultimate artist's starter pack: a wooden palette, a bundle of brushes, and a long mahlstick (a handy prop for steadying your hand so you don't smudge wet paint). While he is best known today for his incredibly detailed, scientific illustrations of Finnish birds, this self-portrait from the early 1850s shows him establishing his identity as a serious painter in the Realism style. The dark, textured background makes his pale face and bright blue accessories pop, giving him a direct and confident gaze that declares his professional status.
- Technique
- Oil painting
- Material
- Canvas
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