Wlastimil Hofman (1881 Prague - 1970 Szklarska Poreba), Self-portrait, 1920.

oil, canvas, 96 × 67.5 cm
signed, dated, and described p. d.: Wlastimil Hofmann | Bonarka 1920
"You will find my entire past in my paintings Given strictly in the most faithful manner In virtuous beauty and sin flaws Even and detail of life's minutest"
Wlastimil Hofman, Szklarska Poreba, September 19, 1959.

Hofman, a portraitist, also created a great many self-portraits. Just like his master - Jacek Malczewski, under whom Wlastimil Hofman studied during his studies at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow in 1895-1899. The presented "Self-portrait" was created in 1920. Almost forty years old at the time, the artist was at the peak of his creative powers and popularity. "Analyzing them (self-portraits), one can see that in addition to the desire to depict one's own personality and various mental states, there is a clear desire to portray oneself as the 'chosen one of the muses,' an inspired artist." Kulakowska K. [in], Paintings by Wlastimil Hofman from Polish and Czech Collections, Jelenia Góra, Szklarska Poreba 2003, p. 18.). Hofman's contemporaries wrote, "Deep poetry and sincere lyricism permeate each of his works. The panache and exuberance of Hofman's talent allows him to solve the same theme in a variety of ways, to reach for content of the widest scope ("Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny", September 28, 1925, (in B. Czajkowski, Portret z pamięci, Ossolineum 1970, p. 140.).