Framed Oil, Self Portrait, Gustaf Arnolds (1881–1969)

about 31x19.5 cm
frame 33x22 cm.
 
Gustaf Arnolds (1881–1969)
Self-portrait
Oil on panel, undated
Dimensions: [insert if known]
In this intimate self-portrait, Swedish artist Gustaf Arnolds applies thick, expressive brushstrokes to render a figure caught in shadow and introspection. The palette—muted greys, earthy browns, and flashes of green—lends the piece a somber, contemplative atmosphere. With facial features left partially obscured, the focus shifts to gesture and presence: a hand placed across the chest, perhaps in a moment of reflection or resolve.
Arnolds’ treatment of paint is characteristically physical, with dense layers that sculpt the figure as much as depict it. While rooted in realism, the portrait flirts with abstraction, inviting the viewer to read into both the material and emotional texture of the work.