Self-Portrait with Glasses, 1913

When this Self-Portrait with Glasses was created in 1913, Albert Paris Gütersloh (1887–1973) was 26 years of age. At the time, the artist, who is timidly looking at the beholder from behind big round glasses, had already trained as an actor and published his first novel. His paintings featured in renowned exhibitions across Europe. The artist created his varied oeuvre within an inspiring and widely connected network. Between 1911 and 1912, he trained under Maurice Denis (1870–1943) in Paris, before becoming a student of Gustav Klimt’s (1862–1918) upon his return to Vienna. He joined the circle surrounding Egon Schiele (1890–1918), who had founded the artists’ association Neukunstgruppe in 1909. Two years later, Gütersloh became a member of this association, and together with his fellow campaigners sought to explore new horizons in the visual arts.

RR, 2021