Alphonse Mucha’s “Self-Portrait” from 1899 is an oil painting on board, measuring 32 by 21 centimeters, which showcases the characteristic style of the Art Nouveau movement. This artwork falls under the genre of self-portraits and is part of the collection housed at the Mucha Museum in Prague, Czech Republic.
The painting reveals a close-up view of Mucha’s face with a direct and contemplative gaze directed toward the viewer, imparting a strong sense of the artist’s presence. He employs a rich, warm palette dominated by browns and ochres, which enlivens the texture of his skin and hair. His unmistakable style, marked by the fluidity of form common to the Art Nouveau movement, can also be subtly distinguished, even though this portrait lacks the ornamental elements that are often associated with his larger body of work. The brushwork is visible and dynamic, contributing to a sense of immediacy and spontaneity in the portrait. The face is rendered with careful attention to detail, and the different strokes capture the play of light on the artist’s features, suggesting a sense of depth and volume.
