Selbstportrait mit Tochter Marion 1894

Franz von Lenbach created this self-portrait with his daughter Marion using soft strokes of pastel. The composition is dominated by the contrast between the artist's mature, heavily-featured face and the delicate features of his child. Lenbach's gaze is direct, almost confrontational, while Marion's eyes seem to look beyond the viewer, creating a visual tension that captivates and unsettles. The muted palette further enhances the sense of intimacy. Structurally, the portrait engages with ideas around the gaze and representation. Lenbach presents himself as both the subject and the object of the painting, challenging the viewer to consider the power dynamics inherent in portraiture. He seems to suggest that identity is relational and constructed through our interactions with others, symbolized here by his daughter. Ultimately, this work's lasting effect is in its formal qualities, which serve to provoke thought about the complex interplay between self and other, reality and representation.