Self-Portrait 1931

François Barraud created this self-portrait with oil on canvas during a period of significant social and artistic transformation. Living in Switzerland during the interwar period, Barraud navigated a cultural landscape marked by both traditional values and emerging modern sensibilities. We see this tension reflected in his stylistic choices, which blend elements of realism with a subtle, almost dreamlike quality. Note the androgynous presentation—the soft features, the simple, functional clothing, and the introspective gaze. The artist seems to be deliberately blurring the lines of gender, inviting us to consider identity as something fluid and constructed. Barraud, who died prematurely at the age of 34, leaves us with this quietly powerful meditation on selfhood. The painting resonates with a delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience.