The artwork titled “Self-Portrait with Madame Pompadour” is a 1969 piece by the artist Fernando Botero, belonging to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. This work falls within the genre of self-portraiture.
The artwork depicts a striking scene featuring two prominent figures set against a muted green background interspersed with foliage and a small bird on a branch. The central figure is a grandiose and elegantly dressed lady, presumably Madame Pompadour, towering above in an opulent pink and orange dress adorned with lace and ribbons, accompanied by a wide-brimmed hat with white, black, and pink accents. In stark contrast, to her left stands a diminutive figure of the artist himself, Fernando Botero, portrayed in his characteristic voluminous style. He is dressed in a formal black suit, holding a paint palette and brushes, which signify his role as the creator of this whimsical depiction. The overall tone of the artwork is one of exaggerated proportions and playful expression, hallmarks of Botero’s distinctive approach to form and composition.