“Small Self-Portrait,” created by Otto Dix in 1913, stands as a striking example of the Expressionist movement, belonging to the genre of self-portraiture. The artwork captures a somber young man staring directly ahead with a piercing gaze. The starkness of his expression is amplified through the meticulous detailing of his features: prominent cheekbones, shadowed eyes, and a slightly pursed mouth. The background, rendered in muted tones, contrasts with the defined contours of the face, drawing the viewer’s focus to the intensity of the subject’s eyes. The raw, unidealized portrayal is emblematic of Expressionist art, emphasizing emotional experience over physical perfection. Otto Dix’s signature and the date of creation, 1913, are discernibly marked in the bottom right corner. The painting evokes a sense of introspection, laying bare the artist’s innermost perceptions of himself.
