The Swiss artist Anton Graff (1736-1813) was born and trained in Winterthur, but really started to make a name for himself as one of Europe's foremost portraitists following his appointment in 1766 as "Hofmaler" (official portraitist) to the Saxon court in Dresden and professor at the local academy there in 1789.
Over the years, he became a much sought-after portraitist, who became respected for the likenesses he made of such eminent contemporaries as, for example, the German philosophers Gottfried Ephraim Lessing and Johann Gottfried Herder as well as the writer Heinrich von Kleist.
These were all very accomplished works of art. But the most interesting facet of Graff's art is his self-portraits, of which there are still some 80 in existence. They range from works showing the early artist to a rather melancholy self-portrait made in 1813, the year of his death, which today hangs in Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie. The most famous is the full-length portrait that can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig.
Our etching therefore stands in a fine tradition and shows a cheerful Graff at his trade: made around 1787, sitting in front of the easel holding his painting utensils. The engaging way in which he invitingly looks at the viewer is meant to suggest an artist at the pinnacle of his powers. It is surely the eye contact that we are allowed to make with the sitting artist that determines the simple strength of this self-likeness.
This is a fairly rare print which, except for some foxing related to ageing, is in excellent condition.
Over the years, he became a much sought-after portraitist, who became respected for the likenesses he made of such eminent contemporaries as, for example, the German philosophers Gottfried Ephraim Lessing and Johann Gottfried Herder as well as the writer Heinrich von Kleist.
These were all very accomplished works of art. But the most interesting facet of Graff's art is his self-portraits, of which there are still some 80 in existence. They range from works showing the early artist to a rather melancholy self-portrait made in 1813, the year of his death, which today hangs in Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie. The most famous is the full-length portrait that can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig.
Our etching therefore stands in a fine tradition and shows a cheerful Graff at his trade: made around 1787, sitting in front of the easel holding his painting utensils. The engaging way in which he invitingly looks at the viewer is meant to suggest an artist at the pinnacle of his powers. It is surely the eye contact that we are allowed to make with the sitting artist that determines the simple strength of this self-likeness.
This is a fairly rare print which, except for some foxing related to ageing, is in excellent condition.
Self-portrait behind the easel, ca. 1787
Etching (Heller-Andresen 1 II (of III)
18,1 x 12,6 cm
Provenance
Private collection, Germany
The Swiss artist Anton Graff (1736-1813) was born and trained in Winterthur, but really started to make a name for himself as one of Europe's foremost portraitists following his appointment in 1766 as "Hofmaler" (official portraitist) to the Saxon court in Dresden and professor at the local academy there in 1789.
Over the years, he became a much sought-after portraitist, who became respected for the likenesses he made of such eminent contemporaries as, for example, the German philosophers Gottfried Ephraim Lessing and Johann Gottfried Herder as well as the writer Heinrich von Kleist.
These were all very accomplished works of art. But the most interesting facet of Graff's art is his self-portraits, of which there are still some 80 in existence. They range from works showing the early artist to a rather melancholy self-portrait made in 1813, the year of his death, which today hangs in Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie. The most famous is the full-length portrait that can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig.
Our etching therefore stands in a fine tradition and shows a cheerful Graff at his trade: made around 1787, sitting in front of the easel holding his painting utensils. The engaging way in which he invitingly looks at the viewer is meant to suggest an artist at the pinnacle of his powers. It is surely the eye contact that we are allowed to make with the sitting artist that determines the simple strength of this self-likeness.
This is a fairly rare print which, except for some foxing related to ageing, is in excellent condition.
Over the years, he became a much sought-after portraitist, who became respected for the likenesses he made of such eminent contemporaries as, for example, the German philosophers Gottfried Ephraim Lessing and Johann Gottfried Herder as well as the writer Heinrich von Kleist.
These were all very accomplished works of art. But the most interesting facet of Graff's art is his self-portraits, of which there are still some 80 in existence. They range from works showing the early artist to a rather melancholy self-portrait made in 1813, the year of his death, which today hangs in Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie. The most famous is the full-length portrait that can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig.
Our etching therefore stands in a fine tradition and shows a cheerful Graff at his trade: made around 1787, sitting in front of the easel holding his painting utensils. The engaging way in which he invitingly looks at the viewer is meant to suggest an artist at the pinnacle of his powers. It is surely the eye contact that we are allowed to make with the sitting artist that determines the simple strength of this self-likeness.
This is a fairly rare print which, except for some foxing related to ageing, is in excellent condition.
Previous
|
Next
1
of 1