Self-Portrait with Hat I

Self-Portrait with Hat I by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a powerful example of the artist's sustained engagement with self-representation late in his career. Created in 1927, the work is a lithograph, meticulously printed in a singular, intense red ink on delicate Japanese paper. This deliberate choice of medium and monochromatic color intensifies the image's emotional charge, a hallmark of Munch's approach to graphic arts. The reductive nature of the printing technique emphasizes the structure and expressionistic qualities of the subject's face, heavily shaded beneath the brim of a hat.

Unlike some of his earlier, highly dramatic depictions, this 1927 self-portrait is characterized by a direct, unflinching gaze that locks the viewer into an intimate connection with the aged master. By the 1920s, Munch, though still deeply rooted in Norway, had achieved global recognition, and his focus on printmaking allowed for widespread dissemination of his iconic imagery. The classification of the piece as a print underscores the critical importance of lithography and woodcut to the overall output of the Norwegian Expressionist movement. Self-Portrait with Hat I demonstrates a continued engagement with themes of isolation and introspection that defined the artist's entire body of work. This specific impression is part of the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key representation of Munch's enduring legacy in modern printmaking.