Wlastimil Hofman (1881 Prague - 1970 Szklarska Poreba), Self-portrait, 1926.

oil, cardboard, 33 × 48 cm light frame
signed and dated p. d.: "Wlastimil Hofman 1926"

On the reverse, author's dedication:
"To Mr. and Mrs. Bubel/Farewell!/ Krakow April 27, 1926/Wlastimil Hofman".

"You will find my entire past in my paintings Given strictly in the most faithful manner In virtuous beauty and sinful blemishes. Even the detail of life's finest"
Wlastimil Hofman, Szklarska Poreba, September 19, 1959.

Hofman, a portraitist, also created a great many self-portraits. In fact, so did his master - Jacek Malczewski, under whom Wlastimil Hofman studied during his studies at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow in 1895-1899. "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 a 'chosen one of the muses', an inspired artist." (K. Kulakowska, [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 tackle the same subject in a variety of ways, to reach for content of the widest scope ("Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny," September 28, 1925, [in:] B. Czajkowski, "Portrait from Memory," Ossolineum 1970, p. 140.)