This luminous self-portrait reinterprets the tender, introspective gaze of Carlos María Esquivel y Rivas’ 19th-century portraits through a contemporary lens. My likeness appears in soft profile, eyes lowered in quiet reflection, surrounded by a radiant halo of warm yellows, vivid blues, gentle greens, and touches of coral and magenta. Fluid, energetic brushstrokes define the face and shoulders, allowing light to move across skin and fabric in transparent layers that evoke both historical intimacy and present-day immediacy.
As a Slovenian artist based in Ljubljana, I draw from the Spanish Romantic tradition of emotional depth and gentle realism while infusing the work with personal warmth and optimistic color—transforming the classical self-portrait into a modern affirmation of identity, vulnerability, and the enduring power of quiet presence.
Technical Details
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Year: 2025
- Dimensions: 31.5″ (H) x 27.5″ (W) x 0.7″ (D)
