Self-Portrait
Medium
Woodcut on paper
Dimensions
Image: 13.4 × 9 cm (5 5/16 × 3 9/16 in.); Sheet: 21.5 × 13.5 cm (8 1/2 × 5 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodcut
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
6083
Art Historical Context
Caspar David Friedrich, the quintessential German Romantic artist (1774–1840), is celebrated for his evocative landscapes that capture the sublime power of nature and the human spirit's quiet introspection. This intimate *Self-Portrait*, a rare woodcut on paper, a personal glimpse into the artist's world. Though undated, it exemplifies Friedrich's early experimentation with printmaking, showcasing his sharp profile against a simple background, rendered with delicate lines that hint at his lifelong fascination with solitude and self-reflection. Woodcuts, a labor-intensive relief printing techn...
About the Artist
Caspar David Friedrich · 1774–1840
Leading artist of the German Romantic movement. He was particularly known for his symbolic and atmospheric treatment of landscape.