Self-Portrait

Pieter Christoffel Wonder Dutch

Not on view

This striking self-portrait by nineteenth-century Dutch painter and printmaker P.C. Wonder shows the artist in the act of drawing or etching his own likeness. His direct gaze (presumably into a mirror) conveys his intense concentration on his task. Light (perhaps from an open window) floods in from the left, illuminating his hand and one side of his face, reminiscent of the 1648 etched self-portrait of Wonder's Dutch forebear Rembrandt van Rijn (see 20.46.12). Traditionally dated 1814, the Wonder self-portrait may, according to the inscription on this impression, actually date to 1812, when the artist was 32 years of age.

Self-Portrait, Pieter Christoffel Wonder (Dutch, 1780–1852), Etching on machine-made wove paper

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Self-Portrait, Pieter Christoffel Wonder (Dutch, 1780–1852), Etching on machine-made wove paper
Self-Portrait, Pieter Christoffel Wonder (Dutch, 1780–1852), Etching on machine-made wove paper

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.