Selvportræt, siddende ved et firkantet bord 18th century

C.G. Pilo created this self-portrait in the 18th century with pencil on paper. Pilo occupied an interesting position in Danish society. Born in Sweden to Italian-Swiss parents, his career took him to Copenhagen where he became a court painter and professor at the Academy. Here, he depicts himself not in the grand attire of a courtier but in a more relaxed, domestic setting. Consider the emotional tenor of this piece. There's a certain vulnerability in the way he presents himself, seated and in profile, seemingly caught in a moment of reflection. He is wearing comfortable house shoes and a dressing gown. His gaze is directed away from us, inviting speculation about his inner thoughts and relationship to his identity. Pilo was later dismissed from his position due to suspicions of disloyalty to the Danish crown. This self-portrait, in its intimate portrayal, might be viewed as an assertion of self amidst political turmoil, a quiet moment of introspection before the tides of history turned against him.