Self-portrait with cigarette 1871

This "Self-portrait with cigarette" was painted by Anselm Feuerbach in the 19th century, using oil on canvas. Feuerbach used a traditional medium, oil paint, to present himself as a modern man of leisure. The smooth application of the paint softens the artist's features, and the warm palette enhances the intimacy of the portrait. Yet, the very ease with which Feuerbach captures his likeness belies a complex relationship to labor. The cigarette, casually held, speaks to the increasing availability of tobacco products – and, in turn, to the exploitation of labor required to produce them. Feuerbach is quite literally consuming the fruits of this labor. In this context, his self-portrait asks us to consider the artist's role within a burgeoning capitalist society. By drawing attention to the materials and social context of this painting, we recognize how deeply intertwined art is with broader economic realities.