“Self-Portrait Presented To M. Sage,” an artwork by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, was created in the year 1886. The medium used to craft this piece is oil on canvas. This self-portrait belongs to the Academicism art movement and showcases Bouguereau’s expertise in the genre of self-portraiture. Currently, the artwork resides in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a middle-aged man with a contemplative yet confident expression. His slightly turned face is characterized by meticulous attention to detail in the rendering of his facial features, including a full beard and mustache, and silver hair. The use of light and shadow emphasizes the texture of his skin and hair, illustrating the artist’s proficiency in capturing human realism. The subject is dressed in dark attire, providing a stark contrast to the lighter tones of his face and hair, thus drawing the viewer’s focus to his expression. The background is unobtrusive, allowing the figure’s presence and the detailed facial expression to dominate the composition. The inscription at the top left corner dedicates the piece to M. Sage, and the artist’s signature along with the date of creation is at the top right, lending a personal touch and historical context to the artwork.
