Artist
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff 1884 – 1976
About the work
Self-portraits made using various techniques played a prominent role in Schmidt-Rottluff’s oeuvre in all his creative phases. Alongside some lithographs, this etching represents one of the very early examples of self-appraisal by the artist. In this self-portrait dating from 1908 the artist was actually only 26 years of age, but he seems considerably older than that. The head is cropped at the top by the edge of the plate. His neck and any transition to his shoulders are missing, so that the physiognomy commands full attention. Gentle brushwork evokes a thoroughly atmospheric backdrop. Deeper etched strokes emphasize the eyes, while their pupils and the wrinkles on his forehead underscore the artist’s earnest and thoughtful facial expression. Along the margins of the plate his self-portrait is surrounded by closely aligned streaks. The idea of a frame is intensified by the bevelled corners of the plate from which the etching was printed. That plate is now also in the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz collection.
Year
1908
Material / Technique
Etching
Dimensions of the object
44,7 x 31,8 cm
Signature
signiert unten rechts: Schmidt-Rottluff; bezeichnet unten links: Rad. 1; unten rechts: Zweiter Druck
Museum
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Kunstsammlungen am Theaterplatz
Inventory no.
49-22
Access
1949 Acquisition from the Kunstausstellung Kühl, Dresden
Creditline
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz
Photo
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz/László Tóth
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Status
Not on display
Exhibitions
- Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Gemälde und Aquarelle - Leihgaben der Städtischen Kunstsammlung Karl-Marx-Stadt, Stadt- und Bergbaumuseum Freiberg/ Städtische Kunstsammlung Görlitz 12.01.1958 – 20.07.1958
- Lyonel Feininger - Karl Schmidt-Rottluff - Erich Heckel: Künstlerfreundschaften, Schleswig, Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum, Schloß Gottdorf 02.08.1998 – 18.10.1998
- Karl Schmidt-Rottluff: Malerei und Graphik aus sieben Jahrzehnten. Ausstellung zum 90. Geburtstag, Städtische Kunstsammlung Karl-Marx-Stadt, Museum am Theaterplatz 01.12.1974 – 23.02.1975
- Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. 490 Werke in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Museum am Theaterplatz 13.12.2015 – 10.04.2016
- Brücke und Blauer Reiter, Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Kunstsammlungen am Theaterplatz 27.3.2022 – 26.6.2022
Catalog raisonné
Schapire R 6
Year
1908
Material / Technique
Etching
Dimensions of the object
44,7 x 31,8 cm
Signature
signiert unten rechts: Schmidt-Rottluff; bezeichnet unten links: Rad. 1; unten rechts: Zweiter Druck
Museum
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Kunstsammlungen am Theaterplatz
Inventory no.
49-22
Access
1949 Acquisition from the Kunstausstellung Kühl, Dresden
Creditline
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz
Photo
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz/László Tóth
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Status
Not on display
If you would like to use an image of this object for your publication or project, please feel free to contact our cooperation partner bpk Bildagentur or us.
Do you have any questions or comments about the Digital Collection?
Then send us an e-mail at archiv.kunstsammlungen@stadt-chemnitz.de
