Skip to main content

Arnold Böcklin

 

Arnold Böcklin, Self-portrait with Death Playing the Fiddle, 1872

CONTEXT CLUES:

Death and mortality are a repeating theme in several of Böcklin's artworks. In this self-portrait, the personification of Death stands behind the artist. Death holds a violin, drawing a bow across the single remaining string, its other strings conspicuously absent. The painter, alert, has paused in his work. He's clearly aware of the figure right behind him but isn't turning to look.

Why do you think Böcklin might have painted himself in the presence of Death? Why do you think he's still so calm and composed in the picture?

Other self-portraits by Böcklin:










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Self Portrait Gallery

Look through the gallery and choose 3 self-portraits that you personally find interesting. Click on the photos for more information about them.
Post a Comment
Read more

Pablo Picasso

  LEFT PHOTO: Pablo Picasso, Self Portrait , 1896 (age 15) RIGHT PHOTO: Pablo Picasso,  Self Portrait Facing Death, 1972 (age 90) CONTEXT CLUES: Picasso was taught to draw from a very young age and was allowed to start taking classes at an art college at the age of only 13. However, at age 16 he dropped out of art school to pursue his own ideas about art. His paintings became increasingly unique and abstract. Self Portrait Facing Death  was painted less than a year before Picasso died. He drew himself with huge, wide eyes facing forward and a blue-green skin color. How do you think he was feeling when he made this artwork? More self-portraits by Picasso, in the order they were made:
Post a Comment
Read more

Jean Michel Basquiat

    LEFT PHOTO: Jean Michel Basquiat,  Self Portrait as a Heel , 1982 RIGHT PHOTO: Jean Michel Basquiat,  Self Portrait as a Heel (Part 2) , 1982 CONTEXT CLUES: A "heel" is slang for a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy; someone with no sense of loyalty or honor. Why do you think Basquiat would choose to describe himself this way? Jean-Michel Basquiat is considered to be one of the most influential Black American artists of the late twentieth century. Basquiat did not have an easy life - his mother had severe depression and went to live in a mental hospital when he was 13 and a disagreement with his father left Basquiat homeless for a while as a teenager. As an artist, his focus was on equality in the society, racial segregation and livelihood, especially in America.      Source:  Jean-Michel Basquiat Biography More self-portraits by Basquiat:
Post a Comment
Read more