Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat 1907 - 1908

Edvard Weie’s "Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat" is made with oil paint on canvas, a traditional pairing. The oil allows Weie to manipulate the paint, building up layers of color and texture to create depth and form. What's striking is how the materiality of the paint itself contributes to the overall effect. Look at the face, see how Weie has used thick, expressive brushstrokes to model the planes of his face, capturing the play of light and shadow. This impasto technique, where the paint is applied so thickly that it stands out from the surface, gives the portrait a tactile quality. You can almost feel the weight and density of the paint. The straw hat, rendered with loose, gestural strokes, adds another layer of texture and visual interest. The tools and techniques are rooted in the traditions of fine art, yet Weie's expressive handling of the materials elevates the work beyond mere representation. By engaging with the inherent qualities of oil paint, Weie invites us to consider not only what is depicted but also how it is made, and what that making signifies.