Self-portrait; Selbstporträt Oskar Laske

The work presents a frontal portrait of a figure rendered in a highly expressive and agitated style. The individual is depicted from the chest upwards, occupying nearly the entire vertical space of the composition. A pallid greenish-yellow dominates the skin tones, contributing to an unsettling and somewhat sickly appearance. The eyes are wide and intensely focused, conveying a sense of anxiety or perhaps profound introspection. The mouth is drawn into a tight line, further emphasizing this emotional state.
The hair appears as a chaotic mass of short, spiky strokes in shades of brown and grey, suggesting both age and agitation. The figure wears what seems to be a dark, loosely draped garment, the folds indicated by broad brushstrokes of maroon and purple. In their hands, they cradle an object – a small, rounded form rendered in muted earth tones. This object is difficult to identify precisely; it could represent a child, a pet, or perhaps even a symbolic representation of something intangible.
The background is largely undefined, consisting primarily of washes of brown and grey that blend into the edges of the composition. The artist’s signature and date are scrawled in bold lettering at the bottom, adding to the overall sense of immediacy and raw emotion. The inscription Vita d. Künstler (Life of the Artist) provides a direct contextualization, suggesting this is an exploration of personal experience.
The paintings subtexts revolve around themes of vulnerability, introspection, and perhaps even suffering. The unsettling color palette, combined with the figure’s intense gaze and agitated posture, creates a palpable sense of unease. The cradled object introduces a layer of complexity – it could represent solace or burden, hope or despair. Overall, this is not a celebratory self-portrait; its an unflinching examination of inner turmoil and the complexities of existence.