Self-Portrait 1893

Pekka Halonen painted this self-portrait using oil on canvas. The way he's applied the paint is interesting; you can see individual strokes, especially in the background. Halonen uses visible brushwork to construct form, while also giving the painting an unfinished quality. It's as if we are witnessing the artist in the act of creation. The texture isn't just visual, it's tactile, hinting at the artist's physical engagement with the material. Traditionally, oil painting involved extensive preparation, grinding pigments and mixing them with oils. By the late 19th century, however, pre-mixed paints became available in tubes. This made painting more accessible and portable, which suits the directness and spontaneity that Halonen captures here. Focusing on the material and the making allows us to consider the changing status of the artist, from skilled craftsman to individual expressing their unique vision. It blurs the boundaries between the art and the craft.