Self-Portrait in 17th Century Costume 1889

Curator: Looking at Albert Edelfelt’s “Self-Portrait in 17th Century Costume,” completed in 1889, one can't help but be struck by its theatricality. Editor: The first thing I see is confidence, a little arrogant even. I imagine him staring back, amused by us all, with that flamboyant mustache as the perfect accent to his gaze. Curator: Exactly. And note the confident brushwork. Edelfelt presents himself draped in the garb of a bygone era. What structural components do you make of it all? Editor: The hat is a dramatic dark crown, leading the eye straight to the sun-drenched face—almost Caravaggio-like. But then your eye travels down to the pale blues of the shirt and the ochre sash; colors hinting towards the more romantic side, don't you think? I see less of an exercise in realism, and more a painter finding his inner swashbuckler. Curator: It is a study of contrasts, isn't it? The smooth textures of his clothing against the roughened background, also the symbolic juxtaposition between the firearm he wields so closely and that somewhat effete, dandyish air about the man… How might Edelfelt be using historical costume to reflect on his own artistic identity? Editor: Maybe it's the romantic in him, you know? Yearning for a bolder, more heroic version of himself, like playing dress-up to unlock something, and then the artist captures the character. Like "today, I’m going to paint as a 17th-century nobleman." And frankly, I’m not sure the historical costume even matters. The artist almost seems like he’s playing dress up… as an Artist. Curator: Hmmm, interesting point! It raises compelling questions about identity. And in what ways identity, image, and performance may intersect. What do you take away from the work on your own? Editor: It makes me wanna grow a massive mustache and maybe grab a rapier— just for a day! It also reminds me that art can be just playful. It should also allow artists and viewers the freedom to experiment. Curator: Quite. And it should not forget to evoke in us these kinds of sensations: this "Self-Portrait" definitely succeeds!