The Cellist (Self-portrait)

Gustave Courbet (1819 - 1877)

Artist/Maker

Artist: Gustave Courbet (1819 - 1877)

DatesMade: 1847

Material / Technique

Oil on canvas

Dimensionsh x w: Måleri 117 x 89 cm h x w x d: Ram 142 x 115 x 13 cm

Inventory numberNM 3105

AcqusitionDonated 1936 Nationalmusei Vänner

Other titlesTitle (sv): Violoncellisten (Självporträtt) Title (en): The Cellist (Self-portrait)

DescriptionDescription: Courbet chose an artistic career outside the academic sphere. This meant, among other things, poorer opportunities for financial support i.e. scholarships and reaching out with his art. Early on, he realized the importance of drawing attention to himself. He did this both in private and as an artist, including participating in the Salon, with self-portraits, where he takes on various roles, like a violin player. The portrait was shown at the 1848 Paris Salon.

Depicted Person

Gustave Courbet (1819 - 1877)

Motif categorySelf-portrait

Collection

Paintings (Paintings)

MaterialOil paint, Duk

TechniquePainting

Object category

painting

Keyword

Självporträtt

External links

Wikidata: http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q18599640

Additional texteDescription: Courbet painted many self-portraits. In the course of the 19th century, self-portraits became increasingly popular. In art circles in Paris, they played a key role in defining the self-image of artists of the era, and in launching artists’ careers on the increasingly competitive art market. In his early self-portraits, Courbet often appears as various theatrical characters – here he is seen in a melancholic, dreamy pose. When The Cellist was shown at the Paris Salon in 1848, the critics noted a resemblance between the claire-obscure of this painting and Rembrandt’s self-portraits.