Themes

Self-portrait (1907)

Mucha produced a number of self-portraits throughout his career in a variety of media. Dated 1907, this self-portrait was produced in America where Mucha was teaching regularly at the Art Institute of Chicago, the New York School of Applied Arts for Women and the Philadelphia School of Art.

In this drawing, Mucha depicts himself as a confident, well-dressed man with penetrating eyes. Quick yet calculated lines of blue crayon determine the characteristics of his face, while the white highlighting of his eyes intensifies his gaze. Long strokes of white crayon create an effect of light shining from behind his head, adding a mystical air to the subject.