Petrus van der Velden
Netherlands / Aotearoa New Zealand / Australia, b.1837, d.1913
Self Portrait with Otira background
- Charcoal
- Bequeathed by Miss D C Bates, 1983
- 367 x 260mm
- 83/29
- View on google maps
Tags: artists (visual artists), gorges (landforms), hats, men (male humans), monochrome, painters (artists), people (agents), portraits, rivers, self-portraits
Van der Velden: Otira, 11-22 February 2011
In this charcoal self-portait, completed just three weeks before his death, van der Velden remains emotionally in tune with the region and his earlier experiences as he pays modest homage to his Otira series. The artist portrays himself, paintbrushes in hand, standing in front of his 1912 painting Otira Gorge, proclaiming to the world the importance of his Otira paintings to him as an artist.
Exhibition History
Quadrant: Four themes of Petrus van der Velden, 20 October 2006 – 25 March 2007
In 1912 Van der Velden revisited the Otira series of the early 1890s, producing several further paintings. This self portrait was drawn just four weeks prior to his death in November 1913. It shows that Van der Velden’s excellent technical ability as a draughtsman remained with him in his final years. Using dramatic contrasts and expressive, gestural marks, he presents himself as the artist, wearing his painting hat, holding brushes and standing before one of his major Otira paintings. He is clearly identifying himself with his Otira series, a major achievement in his painting career.
Related
Notes
It was 100 years ago today...
There are not many works in Christchurch Art Gallery's collection that can be pin-pointed to the exact date in which they were completed but Petrus van der Velden's Self-portrait with Otira Gorge is one and it was completed exactly 100 years ago today.
Notes
International Book Day
I was lucky enough to recently acquire my own copy of one my favourite books, Rodney Wilson's two-volume, case bound Catalogue Raisonne of Petrus van der Velden.
Notes
The Dutch 'Dude'
In-house disappointment at the closure of the Van der Velden exhibition has been lifted today by rumours of Hollywood interest in the story of the Dutch painter and his sorties into the weather-lashed upper reaches of the South Island alpine pass.