Self-Portrait is an oil on canvas completed by Umberto Boccioni in 1905. This early work predates the artist’s involvement with the Futurist movement, capturing the 23-year-old Boccioni as he synthesized the influences of European post-Impressionism and Divisionism.
The canvas showcases the young man utilizing a palette dominated by warm, earthen tones, punctuated by sharp highlights that define the contour of his face. Boccioni presents himself in three-quarter profile, his gaze fixed and introspective, a mood typical of self-portraits created by artists grappling with their emerging professional identity. Unlike the fragmented, kinetic energy that would characterize Boccioni's mature work, this piece exhibits relatively traditional, controlled brushwork. The composition emphasizes light and shadow to model the figure, demonstrating the artist’s mastery of academic technique before his revolutionary rejection of established styles just a few years later.
This painting is a significant record of the foundational stages of the artist’s development before the 1909 Futurist Manifesto. It provides an intimate look at the visual identity of one of Italy's greatest Modernists. The work is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a historically important image, high-quality prints of this early Boccioni self-portrait are often made available through public domain initiatives, providing wide access to the origins of this key figure in 20th-century art.
Important: ArtBee makes no warranties about the copyright status of this artwork. To the best of our knowledge, based on information from the source museum, we believe this work is in the public domain.
You are responsible for determining the rights status and securing any permissions needed for your use. Copyright status may vary by jurisdiction. See our License & Usage page and Terms of Service for details.