Zelfportret van Erin Corr
1841 - 1842
Medium
brush
Dimensions
142; 109
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
height 142 mm x width 109 mm
Art Historical Context
This self-portrait by Erin Corr, dated 1841–1842, presents an intimate view of the artist through a compact brush drawing. Measuring only 142 by 109 millimeters, the work’s small scale suggests a personal study rather than a formal commission, inviting viewers to consider the quiet moments of self-examination that artists often reserved for themselves. The choice of brush as the medium allows for fluid lines and subtle tonal variations, lending the piece a sense of spontaneity and directness. In the mid-nineteenth century, such modest self-portraits offered artists a way to experiment with expression and technique outside the demands of larger public works. As a self-portrait, the drawing carries added significance, bridging the artist’s inner world with the viewer. Its restrained size and materials highlight how even the simplest tools could convey depth and character, encouraging us to appreciate the quiet power of personal artistic reflection.
About the Artist
Erin Corr · 1803–1862
Erin Corr (1803–1862) was an Irish engraver of exceptional skill and dedication, born in Brussels of Irish descent on an unknown date in 1803 and dying on August 10, 1862. His career exemplified the internationalism of 19th-century European art, as he trained in Belgium and France before establishing himself as a professor at the Antwerp Academy, where he influenced the next generation of engraver...