Self-Portrait 1915

This self-portrait, executed in oil by William Merritt Chase, presents a figure adorned with symbols of status and intellect. Note the monocle, a peculiar device, clinging to his eye. A singular lens, it transforms the act of seeing into a deliberate, almost performative gesture. Consider, then, how such an object extends beyond mere utility. The monocle appears as a symbol of cultivated vision, an elevated perspective employed by figures of authority. We find echoes of this motif throughout history—in portraits of learned men, leaders, and sometimes, figures of caricature. This affectation echoes through epochs, reappearing in varied forms, sometimes earnestly, sometimes ironically. The very act of self-representation becomes a dance with identity, with the conscious and subconscious desires to project a certain image. Chase, by carefully crafting his likeness, engages with this complex interplay, presenting himself not merely as he is, but as he wishes to be perceived.