The artwork titled “Knight Errant (Self-Portrait)” by Oskar Kokoschka, created in 1915, belongs to the Expressionism art movement and is classified as a self-portrait.
The artwork depicts a knight, presumed to be Kokoschka himself, portrayed in a melancholic and possibly contemplative state. The knight is rendered with expressive, vigorous brushstrokes, characteristic of Expressionism. The background is tumultuous and surreal, featuring eddies of color and abstract forms, suggesting a landscape that merges with the knight’s emotional and psychological turmoil. The palette is dominated by dark and somber tones but is punctuated with lighter and brighter hues that add to the dramatic intensity of the piece. The knight’s armor, rendered in a loose, almost fluid style, contrasts with the sharpness traditionally associated with such attire, emphasizing the existential weight carried by the figure.
