Self-Portrait

Romaine Brooks, Self-Portrait, 1923, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1966.49.1
Romaine Brooks, Self-Portrait, 1923, oil on canvas, 46 1⁄4 x 26 7⁄8 in. (117.5 x 68.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1966.49.1

Artwork Details

Title
Self-Portrait
Artist
Date
1923
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
46 1⁄4 x 26 7⁄8 in. (117.5 x 68.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Occupation — art — printmaker
  • Portrait female — Brooks, Romaine — waist length
  • Portrait female — Brooks, Romaine — self-portrait
  • Dress — accessory — hat
  • Occupation — art — designer
  • Cityscape
  • Occupation — art — painter
Object Number
1966.49.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/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

Works by this artist (5 items)

View all artworks
Oscar Peterson, Untitled, ca. 1940, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase, 1997.124.199
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1940
On view
Oscar Peterson, Perch Decoy, ca. 1935-1944, carved and painted wood and metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.45
Perch Decoy
Artist
Dateca. 1935-1944
carved and painted wood and metal
On view
Oscar Peterson, Trout Decoy, ca. 1930s, carved, painted, and varnished wood; painted plated iron sheet; painted ferrous tacks; and lead weights, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.13
Trout Decoy
Artist
Dateca. 1930s
carved, painted, and varnished wood; painted plated iron sheet; painted ferrous tacks; and lead weights
On view
Oscar Peterson, Pollywog Decoy, ca. 1920s, carved and painted wood, brass sheet, painted ferrous tack eyes, ferrous eye hook, and painted lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.11
Pollywog Decoy
Artist
Dateca. 1920s
carved and painted wood, brass sheet, painted ferrous tack eyes, ferrous eye hook, and painted lead weight
On view

Related Posts

An illustration of a person wearing a black coat and top hat.
PrideWomen Artists06/01/2022
Drawn to Romaine Brooks
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Maurice Beson, Fish Decoy, 20th century, carved and painted wood; painted, tinned iron sheet; and lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.8
Fish Decoy
Artist
Attributed to Maurice Beson
Date20th century
carved and painted wood; painted, tinned iron sheet; and lead weight
On view
Unidentified, Fish Decoy, 20th century, carved, incised, pyroengraved, and stained wood; galvanized iron sheet; ferrous eye hook; lead weight; and glass eye, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.9
Fish Decoy
Artist
Unidentified
Date20th century
carved, incised, pyroengraved, and stained wood; galvanized iron sheet; ferrous eye hook; lead weight; and glass eye
On view
Unidentified (American), Fish Decoy, ca. 1930s, carved and painted wood, tinned and painted iron sheet metal, and lead weights, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.1
Fish Decoy
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Dateca. 1930s
carved and painted wood, tinned and painted iron sheet metal, and lead weights
On view
Abraham Goulette, Perch Decoy, ca. 1920s, carved and painted wood, painted tinned iron sheet, non-ferrous eye hook, painted ferrous tack eyes, and lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.18
Perch Decoy
Artist
Dateca. 1920s
carved and painted wood, painted tinned iron sheet, non-ferrous eye hook, painted ferrous tack eyes, and lead weight
On view