Self-portrait 1920

Noè Bordignon painted this self-portrait in Italy, although the exact date is unknown. The painting offers a glimpse into the life of an artist who was deeply embedded in the cultural and institutional fabric of his time. Bordignon's position as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice speaks to the role of art academies in shaping artistic styles and values, and the role of institutions in the professionalization of art. The painting's realism reflects the artistic movements of the time, but also highlights the artist's interest in exploring the individual and the self. This focus on individual identity can be seen as a response to broader social and cultural changes in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when traditional social structures were being challenged by new ideas about individual rights and freedoms. Historians would use archival material, exhibition records and other period writings to better understand the relationship between the artist, the academy, and the broader cultural context in which the artwork was created.