Cleveland Museum of Art

Self-Portrait

Armand Guillaumin

Date

c. 1872–74

Medium

oil on fabric

Culture

France, 19th century

Department

Modern European Painting and Sculpture

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Armand Guillaumin created numerous self-portraits throughout his career. In this early example, the muted, brown tones and somber gaze downward in the painting convey seriousness, while the vivid blue, orange, green, and yellow colors in Self-Portrait (2020.129) suggest a confidence echoed by the artist’s direct gaze. Both emotions were experienced by Guillaumin around this time, as he sought to establish himself as a professional artist alongside a full-time job for the French railway system. In 1891, Guillaumin won 100,000 francs in a state lottery, allowing him to quit his government transportation position and begin painting full time.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.