Self-Portrait 1868

This is a self-portrait by Frederic Bazille, painted with oils on canvas sometime in the mid-19th century. Look closely, and you can see how Bazille has used the fluidity of oil paint to capture his own likeness. Notice the way the colors blend seamlessly into one another, especially in the background. With the wet-on-wet technique, he has worked quickly, giving the image an open, effortless quality. But let's not forget the context in which this painting was made. Oil paints were becoming increasingly available in tubes during this period, thanks to industrial manufacturing. This newfound convenience allowed artists like Bazille to work more freely and spontaneously, both in the studio and en plein air. The way that oil paint behaves – its viscosity and drying time – makes the impressionistic aesthetic possible. So, while Bazille's self-portrait may seem like a straightforward depiction of the artist, it's also a product of its time, reflecting broader shifts in technology and artistic practice.