The artwork, “Self-Portrait,” was created by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1847. Executed with pen on paper, this piece belongs to the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of self-portraiture. It is currently housed in the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK.
The artwork depicts a young man with wavy, shoulder-length hair, which frames his face as he gazes intently at the viewer. The overall composition combines the use of swift, confident pen strokes to capture fine details and subtle gradations of shadow and light. The background is minimalist, directing focus entirely on the subject. The expression conveyed is serious and contemplative, indicative of the introspective nature often associated with Romanticism. The artist’s signature and the date, “1847,” are inscribed in the lower right corner of the work.
