Self-portrait 1822 - 1828

Here is the audio guide script: This is a self-portrait of William Dunlap, rendered in watercolor on ivory. Though small in scale, this piece speaks volumes about the sitter's identity and the cultural currents of his time. Dunlap’s stern gaze and the somber palette reflect the serious demeanor expected of a man of letters in the early 19th century. His neatly arranged cravat, a symbol of sophistication, can be traced back through centuries of European portraiture, each knot and fold carrying nuances of social status. What is curious is to see the cravat echoed in ancient sculptures as a symbol of authority. Much like those figures, Dunlap presents himself with a controlled composure, an emotional restraint that hints at the psycho-social norms of his era. Yet, look closer, and you might glimpse the underlying anxiety of self-representation, a tension felt by artists across epochs, grappling with how to immortalize themselves for posterity. The image serves as a poignant reminder of how symbols persist, adapt, and echo through the corridors of time.