Richard Gerstl Semi-Nude Self-Portrait Print

Born in Vienna in 1883, Gerstl was a tortured prodigy who died tragically young at just 25. Yet in that short time, he created works that still radiate with raw, electric energy. This Semi-Nude Self-Portrait, painted circa 1902 to 1905, is especially remarkable. Though it predates his later, more gestural style, the work already hints at the emotional urgency that would define his artistic identity.

In this composition, Gerstl renders himself like a ghostly figure emerging from the deep — a solitary male body wrapped in a glowing white cloth, surrounded by a sea of saturated blue. His head appears to radiate a pale aura, his eyes fixed in a haunting glare that seems to look through the viewer, not merely at them.

The figure's almost spectral presence has been interpreted in multiple ways — from allusions to the biblical Lazarus to echoes of Ecce Homo, with Gerstl positioning himself as both witness and martyr of the modern soul. What’s certain is that this is no ordinary self-portrait. It’s an act of self-sacralisation, a visual manifesto of an artist who refused to conform — and in doing so, prefigured the psychological self-examinations of Egon Schiele.

🌱 Fine Art Meets Eco-Luxury

• 🌈 Ultra-vivid colours with 12-colour giclée printing

• 📜 Matte finish for a sophisticated, glare-free look

• 🖼️ Thick 200 gsm FSC-certified paper

• 📏 Multiple sizes to suit every frame and wall

• 🌿 Eco-friendly materials for sustainable style