Young Man (possible self portrait)
Date made: c.1900
Artist: Hoggatt, William
Description: Hoggatt is best-known for his Manx landscapes and this portrait provides a totally different perspective on his artwork. It has been painted in a thick and heavy style. The subject may or may not be Hoggatt himself. He has a confident and self-assured pose and holds his head high as he boldly, almost haughtily, stares beyond the viewer and nonchalantly blows smoke rings in the air. The pale ghost-like face and white collar appear to loom out of the darkness and the hand holding the cigarette is almost lost in the shadows, together with the smoke.
The thin cadaver-like face, with its ghostly white pallor and contrasting dark shadows under the eyes, epitomise the stereotypical image of the bohemian artist suffering for his art. This impression is intensified by the eyes which seem cold and lifeless. The fleck of white, which artists normally add to the pupils to make them appear more lifelike by reflecting light, is noticeably absent.
Interestingly this portrait is very similar to "Self-portrait with Burning Cigarette" (1895) by Edvard Munch, the Norwegian artist best-known for his work The Scream.
Measurements: unframed artwork: 72 cm x 47 cm
Materials: oil on canvas
Object name: oil painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1997-0030
Subject tags : smoking
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excellent rings there - howard Report this