Jules Léonard Schmitz

JULES LÉONARD SCHMITZ (France, active in 1800).
"Self-portrait", 1843.
Oil on panel.
Presents informative label on the back.
Signed and dated on label on the back.
Measurements: 28.5 x 24 cm; 41 x 37 cm (frame).
The present self-portrait of Jules Léonard Schmitz reveals itself as a work of deep psychological introspection and technical mastery, typical of the romantic sensibility of the 19th century. The image shows the artist in an intimate foreground, with his torso slightly turned to the left while his face is turned decisively towards the viewer. This pose gives the composition a sense of closeness and restrained tension, as if the artist were in a moment of silent revelation.
The treatment of the face is particularly remarkable: Schmitz portrays himself with a serene but intensely penetrating expression. The eyes, dark and bright, hold the viewer's gaze with a mixture of intellectual lucidity and emotional reserve. The hair, matted and dark, frames the face naturally and reinforces the introspective character of the figure.
A noteworthy detail is the right hand, partially visible, which is delicately introduced inside the coat.