Self-PortraitBill Traylor · 1939

Identification of the Self-Portrait by Bill Traylor

This work is a Self-Portrait by the American artist Bill Traylor. Created around 1939–40, the piece offers a direct encounter with the artist himself. Traylor was born in Benton, Alabama, in approximately 1853 and remained a significant figure in the American landscape until his death in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1949.

In this specific composition, Traylor turns his gaze inward to document his own likeness. The work emerged during a period when the artist had relocated to Montgomery, a move that preceded his most prolific years of creation. It remains a singular instance of the artist's ability to translate his own presence onto the surface of the medium.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

The composition is remarkably direct. An elderly African American man is positioned centrally, occupying much of the frame against a light brown background. He is depicted with a large mustache and a wide-brimmed hat that casts a subtle shadow over his features. There is a stillness to his posture, a quiet presence that commands the space without needing movement. He holds a cane in each hand, the sticks providing a sense of physical stability.

Color is used with a specific, purposeful economy. The trousers are a bright blue, providing a sharp contrast to the muted, earthy tones of the background and the dark upper body. This choice of pigment draws the eye immediately to the lower half of the figure, grounding him within the composition. The arrangement lacks traditional perspective, favoring a flat, two-dimensional space that emphasizes the silhouette of the man over any sense of environmental depth.

Technique and Physical Materials

There is a certain honesty in the choice of materials used here. The artist worked with gouache and pencil, applying color and line directly onto a piece of cardboard. This choice of support, common for those working with the limited resources available in Montgomery, gives the piece a tactile, grounded quality. The surface is modest, yet it holds the pigment with a quiet strength.

The application of the medium is direct. Bold, somewhat crude lines define the figure, tracing the silhouette and the essential shapes of the man. These marks do not seek to mimic reality through soft shading; instead, they use the weight of the pencil and the opacity of the gouache to establish form. The blue of the trousers and the dark tones of the upper body are applied with a focus on clarity rather than complex blending.

Measuring 17 1/4 × 11 3/8 in. (43.8 × 28.9 cm), the work maintains a compact, intimate presence. The physical reality of the cardboard is felt in the way the colors sit upon the surface, creating a flat, two-dimensional space that emphasizes the presence of the figure. It is a work of economy and precision.

History and Museum Collections

This work is currently on loan to The Met, where it resides within the American Wing. It is identified by the object number L.1995.38.3. The piece entered the collection as a promised gift of Charles E. and Eugenia C. Shannon.

The provenance of this self-portrait is tied to the significant contributions made by the Shannon family. Through their generosity, this specific depiction of the artist has been preserved for study and public viewing. It remains a significant part of the institutional holdings within the American Wing.