Self-portrait 19th-20th century

Curator: Here we see William Valentine Schevill’s self-portrait, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at the raw brushwork used to build this image. Editor: It feels very immediate, doesn’t it? The materiality of the paint is so present. I’m interested in how the social context of the art world might have influenced this artist’s choice to depict himself in this way. Curator: Indeed. The visible brushstrokes and the almost hurried application of paint seem to challenge traditional notions of artistic skill and the artist’s place within a hierarchy. Editor: And that teal background almost clashes with the formal suit. It's like he's deliberately blurring the lines between respectability and rebellion within the established artistic institutions of his time. Curator: The bow tie, though, that touch of red almost insists upon a certain… craft, a certain elegance despite the overall effect. Editor: I am left wondering about the image's place, or lack thereof, within the wider social and artistic narrative of portraiture. Curator: A narrative of shifting social and artistic values, brought to life by the materiality of oil paint itself. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!