Self-portrait

About this artwork

Jacob Hart Lazarus's *Self-Portrait* (1870–80) captures the artist in a moment of introspective gaze, rendered in rich oil on canvas—a medium favored by 19th-century American painters for its luminous depth and versatility. Measuring 27 1/8 x 22 inches, this intimate work exemplifies the self-portrait tradition, where artists like Lazarus showcased not only their likeness but also their technical prowess in handling light, texture, and expression. Created during the post-Civil War era in the United States, the painting reflects a burgeoning American art scene, housed today in The American Wing of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Self-portraits from this period often served as personal statements amid rapid social change, blending European influences with a distinctly Yankee realism. Lazarus, an active figure in New York's cultural circles, gifted viewers a window into his own identity through meticulous brushwork and subtle tonal modeling. Acquired as a gift from Samuel Riker Jr. in 1908, this piece underscores the era's growing appreciation for native-born talent. For visitors, it's a poignant reminder of how self-portraits humanize history, inviting us to ponder the artist's inner world amid America's Gilded Age transformation.