Pumpkinhead - Self-Portrait 1972

Jamie Wyeth painted *Pumpkinhead - Self-Portrait* with oils, deploying traditional art materials and processes. The painting’s success hinges on the material contrast between the figure’s dark, somewhat austere clothing and the brightly lit, carved pumpkin in place of a head. The effect is simultaneously humorous and unsettling, invoking Halloween traditions. The painting has a direct connection to modes of production and social context, referencing the tradition of pumpkin carving, which is labor-intensive and deeply ingrained in American folk culture. The contrast between the artist's labor and the social significance of the carved pumpkin is a compelling aspect of the work. By emphasizing these tangible elements, Wyeth blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider the value and meaning embedded in the act of making itself.