Self-Portrait with a Brush - Oskar Kokoschka
Archival giclée
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Description
A raw, introspective 1917 self-portrait by Austrian Expressionist Oskar Kokoschka, capturing the artist with a brush in a moody, textured style.
Oskar Kokoschka painted this self-portrait in 1917, a period marked by his recovery from injuries sustained during the First World War. The work captures the artist in a moment of introspection, holding a brush as if poised to work. His gaze is direct, yet the facial features appear strained and gaunt, reflecting the psychological toll of his experiences.
The composition relies on a dark, moody palette dominated by deep blues, blacks, and muted ochres. Kokoschka employs a heavy, gestural application of paint, creating a textured surface that emphasises the physical act of creation. The background is indistinct, pushing the figure forward and forcing the viewer to focus on the artist's expression and the tension in his hand. The lighting is dramatic, catching the contours of his face and the brush, while the rest of the figure recedes into shadow.
This piece is characteristic of Kokoschka's approach to portraiture, where the objective is to reveal the internal state of the subject rather than merely recording physical appearance. The brushwork is agitated, suggesting a restless energy that contrasts with the stillness of the pose. By choosing to depict himself with his tools, Kokoschka asserts his identity as an artist despite the surrounding chaos of the era. The painting offers a window into the artist's mindset during a difficult transition in his life, stripped of academic artifice and focused on raw, human presence.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Self-Portrait with a Brush - Oskar Kokoschka
Artist Biography
Oskar Kokoschka
He was born in 1886 in Pochlarn, Austria. He was shot through the head in Ukraine and bayoneted in the chest in Russia. He survived both.
After the war, he commissioned a Munich dollmaker named Hermine Moos to create a life-size replica of Alma, sending detailed instructions about the feel of her skin and the weight of her body. Moos covered the figure in feathers instead. Kokoschka eventually staged a public execution: he decapitated the doll and smashed a bottle of wine over its head on his lawn. The police arrived the next morning, thinking he had murdered a woman.
The Nazis declared him a degenerate artist. He fled Czechoslovakia for London after the Munich Agreement and became a British citizen in 1947. His Expressionist portraits are among the most psychologically penetrating of the twentieth century: raw, agitated surfaces that seem to expose the sitter's interior state. He lived to ninety-four.
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