Self-Portrait

Romaine Brooks, Self-Portrait, 1923, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1966.49.1
Copied Romaine Brooks, Self-Portrait, 1923, oil on canvas, 46 1426 78 in. (117.568.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1966.49.1

Artwork Details

Title
Self-Portrait
Date
1923
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
46 1426 78 in. (117.568.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Cityscape
  • Dress — accessory — hat
  • Occupation — art — painter
  • Occupation — art — designer
  • Portrait female — Brooks, Romaine — self-portrait
  • Occupation — art — printmaker
  • Portrait female — Brooks, Romaine — waist length
Object Number
1966.49.1

Artwork Description

With this self-portrait, Brooks envisioned her modernity as an artist and a person. The modulated shades of gray, stylized forms, and psychological gravity exemplify her deep commitment to aesthetic principles. The shaded, direct gaze conveys a commanding and confident presence, an attitude more typically associated with her male counterparts. The riding hat and coat and masculine tailoring recall conventions of aristocratic portraiture while also evoking a chic androgyny associated with the post--World War I "new woman." Brooks's fashion choices also enabled upper-class lesbians to identify and acknowledge one another.

The Art of Romaine Brooks, 2016

Luce Center Label

In this painting, Romaine Brooks portrayed herself in the dark colors of a man's outfit, her eyes veiled under the shadow of her hat brim. Brooks lived most of her life in Paris, where she crafted an androgynous appearance that challenged conventional ideas of how women should look and behave. The shadowed face in this portrait suggests that her true self is hidden behind a carefully constructed facade. The tiny flash of red on Brooks's lapel represents the ribbon of the Legion of Honor she received for her artistic achievements, but it might also hint at the secret passions of her personal life.

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