Self-portrait with a camellia branch c. 1906 - 1907

Paula Modersohn-Becker's "Self-portrait with a Camellia Branch" (c. 1906-1907) is a poignant example of the artist's unique style. The painting portrays the artist with a direct, unflinching gaze, her features rendered with a raw honesty that reflects her commitment to realism. The camellia branch, held prominently in the center of the composition, symbolizes both beauty and fragility, perhaps alluding to the artist's own short but prolific career. Modersohn-Becker’s self-portraits, which were often a means for her to explore her artistic identity, are known for their emotional intensity and the artist's unconventional depiction of female beauty.