Self Portrait (detail) 1910

Eugène Jansson made this self-portrait, in which he depicted himself amongst other young, athletic men, using traditional oil paints on canvas. The materiality of the paint itself, thick and textured, contributes significantly to the artwork's emotional depth. Jansson’s visible brushstrokes render the figures with an immediacy that evokes his personal experience. The canvas becomes a site of labor, with the artist's hand actively shaping the forms and figures. The physical act of applying the paint, layering color upon color, is integral to the overall effect. The figures emerge as if molded from earth, their physicality mirroring the artist's engagement with his medium. Jansson’s self-portrait challenges traditional boundaries between fine art and craft. His attention to the material qualities of paint and the labor-intensive process of its application elevates the work beyond mere representation. Instead, we find a profound exploration of the self, mediated through the intimate act of making.